November 9, 2013 at 16:31Microsoft CEO candidate Stephen Elop may be considering selling Xbox and closing Bing
- Transfer
Microsoft is currently in search of a new CEO to replace Steve Ballmer, who plans to leave the post within ten months. According to the latest data, the company considers Ford CEO Alan Mulali and former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop as the main options . Mulali said he did not intend to leave Ford, while, according to Bloomberg , Elop already has serious plans for the appointment of Microsoft CEO. After a short (well, short-lived, almost three years - approx. Per.) Tenure as head of the Microsoft business unit, responsible, including for Office, the return of Elop to Microsoft as CEO, presumably followed by the promotion of Office for Android and iOS
According to reports, Elop is considering a move away from Microsoft's traditional choice of a Windows PC as the main platform for Office. Bloomberg reports that Elop is developing “some common strategic principles for Microsoft,” probably in preparation for a CEO interview. Elop’s potential strategy is to maximize Office sales instead of using it as a lever to boost sales of Windows PCs and tablets. Microsoft's office and server software performed well in recent financial reports, while Windows continues to flounder in the dwindling PC industry. Although Office Mobile for Office 365 subscribers has already been released for iOS and Android , Microsoft is no doubt capable ofoffer full versions on competing platforms.
Bloomberg also suggests that Elop intends to close or sell some of Microsoft's significant business lines. It is reported that he is considering closing the Bing search engine and is considering mulling the Xbox. Some investors and analysts have already advised companies to separate the gaming business and stop searching. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen seems to think the same. Paul Ghafari, Allen’s 15 billionth asset manager, recently said Bing and Xbox are distractions for Microsoft. “I believe that some parts of the business should be moved outside the company, get rid of them in order to focus on the corporate market and the clouds.” Rick Sherlund, an analyst at Nomura, says Microsoft’s financials could be 40% higher in 2015 when selling Bing and Xbox.
However, despite a long history of tips and tricks, selling Bing and Xbox is currently not very likely. Microsoft integrates its search engine directly into Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone, and there are only a few weeks left before the release of the new Xbox One. Bing is also heavily used in the Xbox ecosystem. One way or another, Microsoft is looking for a new CEO, and some believe that Ballmer's successor will be named by the end of the year .
According to reports, Elop is considering a move away from Microsoft's traditional choice of a Windows PC as the main platform for Office. Bloomberg reports that Elop is developing “some common strategic principles for Microsoft,” probably in preparation for a CEO interview. Elop’s potential strategy is to maximize Office sales instead of using it as a lever to boost sales of Windows PCs and tablets. Microsoft's office and server software performed well in recent financial reports, while Windows continues to flounder in the dwindling PC industry. Although Office Mobile for Office 365 subscribers has already been released for iOS and Android , Microsoft is no doubt capable ofoffer full versions on competing platforms.
Bloomberg also suggests that Elop intends to close or sell some of Microsoft's significant business lines. It is reported that he is considering closing the Bing search engine and is considering mulling the Xbox. Some investors and analysts have already advised companies to separate the gaming business and stop searching. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen seems to think the same. Paul Ghafari, Allen’s 15 billionth asset manager, recently said Bing and Xbox are distractions for Microsoft. “I believe that some parts of the business should be moved outside the company, get rid of them in order to focus on the corporate market and the clouds.” Rick Sherlund, an analyst at Nomura, says Microsoft’s financials could be 40% higher in 2015 when selling Bing and Xbox.
However, despite a long history of tips and tricks, selling Bing and Xbox is currently not very likely. Microsoft integrates its search engine directly into Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone, and there are only a few weeks left before the release of the new Xbox One. Bing is also heavily used in the Xbox ecosystem. One way or another, Microsoft is looking for a new CEO, and some believe that Ballmer's successor will be named by the end of the year .