Microsoft: iPhone 4 could be Apple's Vista

With its upcoming Windows Phone 7 just on the horizon, you’d expect Microsoft to throw a few jabs at the Apple iPhone. However, you wouldn’t expect it to associate one of its own products with failure while doing so.

That’s exactly what Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner did during the keynote speech at the company’s Worldwide Partner Conference.

“It looks like the iPhone 4 might be their Vista, and I’m okay with that,” Turner said.

He also poked fun at the mounting issues with the Apple iPhone and its antenna.

“One of the things I want to make sure you know today is that you’re going to be able to use a Windows Phone 7 and not have to worry about how you’re holding it to make a phone call,” Turner zinged.

These are all easy shots to take and while Apple is probably not happy about all the insults being lobbed at its reception issues on the iPhone, it doesn’t seem to be impacting sales one bit. The Apple iPhone 4 sold 1.7 million units over its launch weekend and it would have sold more if Apple could have pumped out more devices. Even with Consumer Reports taking back its purchasing recommendation for the iPhone, I don’t see the momentum going away anytime soon.

To be fair, these were just two lines taken out of a long speech and because this was a Microsoft event, you do have to give your base a little meat by insulting the Apple iPhone. However, I’d prefer that Microsoft start crowing about Windows Phone 7 and its capabilities and hardware instead of taking pot shots though.

I was debating Microsoft’s chances in the mobile space with colleagues this week and I still think the software giant is sitting on a hit with Windows Phone 7. I dig the new user interface because it takes us beyond app icons in a grid (which has somehow been dubbed “innovative”). I’d much prefer a more holistic experience where the apps seamless integrate with the system and the UI, and Windows Phone 7 looks like it could do that.

Of course, the proof will be in the pudding and we’re still months away from cool Microsoft Windows Phone 7 handsets like the Dell Lightning. What do you think of Microsoft’s chances?

[Via ComputerWorld]

About The Author

Marin Perez

Marin Perez has torture tested cell phones and smartphones for industry leaders like CNET and InformationWeek. He remembers when 4G was just a screen on PowerPoint presentations and is fascinated with the amount of innovation out there. Marin has spent a lot of time with BlackBerry and Android but he finally broke down a bought an iPhone to see what all the hype's about. He also has too many tablets.

@danruss

I don't think they kin pull it off.
Jason

MS is tired and past the days they were considered cool. Now they are old, fat, complacent, and out of touch. They stopped innovating a long time ago when the money became too easy, and they have had a hard time doing anything but copying Apple as of recent (and a poor job of doing so I might add). Apple's innovative spirit is in their DNA… They know people will spend money on products that are cool and work well. Microsoft's innovative spirit is solely the result of desperation.
Adam

When I read Dell and Microsoft in the same sentence I threw up a little in my mouth…I can't think of two companies who combined make worse products than them…this will SURELY be a flop…..hello Kin!
marin

Ha ha. Fair points. I still think that Dell's smartphone lineup looks cool.

Apple's had flops too folks, look at the Apple TV or the iPod HiFi.
c———–

funny cause copying a bad antenna is easy lol what a joke man what really has apple produced besides speculation on what there ipad and iPhone really do; now let get on the topic of why is apple trying to copy htc in adding thee phones to all carriers and the lawsuit has nothing to do with that. second tell me please how the iphone has not copied htc when htc phone with win ui on them have shown to be faster and more reliable then the two previously released iphones lol what a joke get off apple bro they dont even support flash;;;;; html-5 its not reliable either ………………..
woosh

Lol, that’s funny what he said about the iphone, because it’s all true. Their antenna makes it lose signal as soon as you pick it up. And there’s videos on youtube about it.

Thank goodness I returned my iphone4 within the day. I also wasn’t fond of the idea of apples sketchy customer service that I call Apple Scare. My friends mac broke, and they wanted $1000 to fix the stupid system board. Then blamed my friend for it as if her typing on it somehow caused it. A similar PC would could be have a whole new board for under $300. So apple is a rip when you first buy, then a rip after you get it due to their cheap materials and scamastic (<< new word, lol) methods.

But, after they've spent years bashing and making fun of their competitor in order to promote their own, I've got say, Apple had that coming to them. hehe. So can't see why a few are bent out of shape. But that just makes it even funnier really… And the cool thing is that it seems like microsoft can admit vista wasn't the best. But can Apple or it's fans admit that not only does their iphone4 have antenna issues, but it's falling behind the new pack of smart phones that are emerging. Even with consumer reports retracting their recommendation, I highly suspect that apple fans can NOT admit to any flaws. It's the nature of their personalities, and why apple so cleverly targeting them to begin with…