Microsoft's Ballmer: Economy Not Through All Issues
16 Ottobre 2009 - 8:30PM
Dow Jones News
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said Friday
that a permanently changed economy will be slow to recover from the
recession, but he also cited signs of improvement and issued an
upbeat outlook for long-term information-technology
opportunities.
"What we see today feels like a new normal," Ballmer said about
the economy in an address during a luncheon held by the Boston
College Chief Executives' Club of Boston. "I don't think we're
through all the issues."
He noted that corporate spending on technology was badly hurt by
the downturn. "I think business is going to be slow to start
rehiring" and investing, he said.
But he also noted some areas of improvement, such as in spending
on consumer electronics. "We see some stability at this stage, and
I think the chance for real growth."
Over the long haul, Ballmer made a case for a big, expanding
role for information technology. He talked about a range of
potential uses and ways it can help in drug discovery, the energy
field, education and other applications.
Ballmer said he sees tech innovation having a bigger impact on
society in the next five to 10 years than it did in the prior five
to 10 years.
-By Jon Kamp, Dow Jones Newswires; 617-654-6728;
jon.kamp@dowjones.com