Microsoft's Ballmer: Surge is anomaly
Reuters | at | by Mike
Microsoft Corp. said on Sunday a surge in first-quarter sales was not sustainable and forecast tough business conditions ahead. "We're not trying to say that we think the sales results of our first quarter will be sustainable. It is kind of a one-time anomaly," Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer told Australia's Nine Network. "We're still seeing the business as being reasonably tough, at least compared to, let's say, the good old days, reasonably tough around the globe."
Ballmer also hinted Microsoft was unlikely to partner with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. for a second stab at satellite television provider Hughes Electronics Corp. "A lot of our strategic interests have shifted since the deal fell apart the first time," Ballmer, who visited Australia last week to shore up relations with major corporate clients, told Nine's Business Sunday program.