By Joe Arico | Thu Mar 01, 2012 11:49 am
Microsoft president Steven Sinofsky is responsible for one of the company's most talked-about products in years, positioning him as a potential CEO to transition the tech giant into mobile.The vision for Microsoft's future software Sinofsky presented during the Windows 8 Consumer Preview strengthened analysts' belief he should succeed current CEO Steve Ballmer. The Windows 8 software, crafted by Sinofsky and his team, is a simplified, more consumer-focused product that will connect all devices running the software.
"Our goal for Windows 8 was to create that no-compromise experience with phones, laptops, desktops and tablets all coming together, to be seamless," Sinofsky said.
The lack of integration and the incompatibility between Microsoft's products has been one of the company's biggest weaknesses against its competition. Apple's marriage of hardware and software and the way its products work together has brought the company tremendous success, which leaves Microsoft looking static by comparison.
Critics called for Microsoft to improve the integration among its products for years, and if Windows 8 can deliver, they will credit Sinofsky as the visionary who made it happen. Although some analysts believe Sinofsky does not have the showmanship and temperament needed as CEO of one of the world's largest companies, he will be the clear-cut favorite to take the post if Windows 8 lives up to expectations when it launches later this year.
Sinofsky would be a very different kind of CEO for Microsoft. Steve Ballmer, who has held the job since 2000, is a business-minded leader known for his analytic acumen, but has often shown signs of being out of touch with where technology is headed. Although he has managed to keep Microsoft financially sound, the software giant played catch up under his leadership while other companies innovate.
A move to Sinofsky would give Microsoft a CEO who has spent his career focusing on the needs of consumers, and some analysts would argue, allow the giant to compete in the fast-paced world of technology.
Sinofsky joined Microsoft in 1989 as a software design engineer, garnering the notice of then-CEO Gates, who took him on as his technical assistant. Gates credits Sinofsky, among others, for helping him to understand the full impact of the Internet in technology. Microsoft staff comment on his technical chops and accessibility, as well as his tough meetings.
For now, Ballmer is Microsoft's CEO, but if Windows 8 helps the company regain momentum in the PC market and steal some of Apple's thunder in the tablet arena, Sinofsky could receive the bulk of the credit, and perhaps a promotion to go with it.
Wed Feb 29, 2012 3:03 pm | By Touchscreen and app technologies are coming to the home PC, thanks to new developments in Windows 8, Microsoft's highly anticipated OS that aims to bring the tech giant into a mobile-dominated era.
Thu Feb 23, 2012 12:26 pm | By Tech companies agreed to stronger privacy policies for mobile apps, as scrutiny ramps up among lawmakers and consumer advocates about how apps handle personal information.
Wed Feb 22, 2012 11:32 am | By Microsoft is firing at Motorola for its treatment of fair-use patents, piling evidence against Motorola for alleged abuse of standard patent usage guidelines.
Fri Feb 10, 2012 11:05 am | By Microsoft plans to unveil Windows 8 on February 29, and push into mobile by unifying its software on all its devices.
Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:17 pm | By Countries and companies all over the world are celebrating Safer Internet Day today, discussing how to keep children safe online and launching new products to support the effort.
Editorials & Opinion By Kate Knibbs
Tech leaders gathered at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, while Google's controversial privacy policy went into effect. 
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