Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Admits Regret Over Handling of Windows Phone Discontinuation

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella expresses regret over the premature discontinuation of the Windows Phone project, suggesting smarter device category reinvention could have potentially saved the platform; this comes amidst the company's re-entry into the mobile device market with the Surface Duo.

• Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella has expressed regret over the premature discontinuation of Windows Phone, suggesting there could have been potential to reinvent the category of computing to incorporate PCs, tablets, and phones.
• While Microsoft spent billions on acquiring Nokia, the Windows Phone project was eventually killed in 2014, with the last security updates for the remaining devices halted in 2019.
• Adding to Nadella's regret, Microsoft's other executives including Bill Gates and former CEO Steve Ballmer also admitted that their approach towards mobile phones was a mistake, specifically by letting Android become the primary non-Apple mobile operating system.
• Microsoft has made a cautious re-entry into the mobile device market with the Surface Duo, aligning with Nadella's vision for categorical innovation. However, the device has not spurred significant market interest.
• Transitioning from its mobile struggle, Microsoft’s focus, in recent times, has been on integrating AI technology into its products and fostering a culture of alignment between what they think, say, and do as pointed out by Nadella.

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