Android has over 2.5 billion users, making it the most widely used mobile operating system in the world. That's nearly double the number of Windows installations across desktops, laptops, and other devices. It's a dominant position that isn't going anywhere anytime soon—and it has earned a certain admiration from old rivals, including Bill Gates himself. What happened? The philanthropist recently admitted that his biggest mistake while leading Microsoft was failing to have the company develop something equivalent to Android.
The Numbers That Put Microsoft in the Shade
Windows' dominance over laptops and desktops is impressive. Combining all its editions, the operating system holds more than 80 percent of the market, and within that bundle, half of the installations already belong to Windows 10. Despite some scares and technical setbacks, Windows' numbers remain solid… until you compare them with Android.
Google's little monster turns 11 in September. Fragmentation, performance issues, security flaws—let's say it's not perfect. But the company announced at its latest I/O conference that Android surpassed the 2.5 billion user mark. Those are numbers that would make even extremely successful people like Bill Gates envious. The philanthropist took part in a talk organized by the accelerator Village Global and shared some very interesting tidbits.
Editor's note: There are no timestamps; what you're looking for is at 09:10.
Part of the conversation shifted to Microsoft's origins, who provided financial assistance at the beginning, and how competition looked between a "company of software" and other initiatives that only offered a single product in the market. This continued with artificial intelligence, machine learning, hardware, politics, education… very attractive topics that anyone should follow more closely.
However, at one point he talks about the balance between that gigantic effort of the early years and personal needs. That's when he drops the bomb and says that his biggest mistake was the failure in his management that didn't allow Microsoft to become what Android is today—that is, the standard "non-Apple" platform for mobile phones. According to Gates, that was "a very natural thing to win" at Microsoft, but it didn't happen.
https://old.neoteo.com/bill-gates-confiesa-usar-un-telefono-android/
He also emphasizes that it's a market where "the winner really takes it all", and that there's only 'one place' for a non-Apple operating system. How much is that worth? $400 billion that would go from 'the G company' to 'the M company'. Windows and Office turned Microsoft into 'a' leading company, but if they had succeeded, today they would be 'the' leading company.
It's definitely worth spending the whole hour on this video. There you'll see a relaxed Bill Gates, full of precise and forceful answers that make us question his "retirement". Whether you admire him or hate him, there's something to learn here.
