In his last shareholder address as Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer took time to defend Xbox and Bing as essential components of the company’s broader vision after some have suggested it might be wise for Microsoft unload these businesses to become more profitable.
Speaking concerning the Xbox One, as reported by Geek Wire and Seeking Alpha, Ballmer said the console’s integration of Bing and SkyDrive are examples of Microsoft executing on its plan to unify the company’s devices and services.
“No other company can have delivered what we’re delivering with Xbox One,” Ballmer said. The console is a “reflection of what’s possible when an organization, our company, is unified under a standard vision,” he added.
Ballmer announced his resignation in August, saying on the time that he would step down in the next year, but not before a successor was named. Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, reportedly a front-runner to become new Microsoft CEO, may consider selling off the Xbox business and killing Bing entirely if he gets the job, in response to a Bloomberg report this month. Elop joined Microsoft in September when Microsoft purchased Nokia’s handset business for $7.2 billion.
What’s more, Microsoft cofounder Steve Allen’s investment group Vulcan Capital said earlier this month that the subsequent Microsoft CEO will be smart to sell of the Xbox business since it is “detracting” from Microsoft’s core competencies.
The Xbox One would be released this Friday, November 22.