Microsoft's Ballmer goes ballistic over iPhone

David Swan
Monday, 14 September 2009 09:19

Your IT - Mobility

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is well known for his wild outbursts and tirades, but just how crazy did he go at today's conference when he spotted one of his employees with an iPhone?

According to reports from Twitter and Techflash , Microsoft's private company meeting at Seattle's Safeco Field today was by all accounts fairly standard fare, with CEO Steve Ballmer was making his typical ridiculous entrance to whoops and cheers from the all-Microsoft audience. That was the case, of course, until the iPhone was spotted.
Judging by available YouTube videos of Ballmer's entrance, the set was more akin to a rock concert, which is probably an effort to boost morale after recent lay-offs and cutbacks at the company.

Anyway, Ballmer, who has been (in)famous for his outbursts, spotted a member of his team, who is “allegedly a member of the Windows group”, using a (gasp) iPhone to take a photo of him.

Ballmer quickly snatched the iPhone from his employee and “made some funny remarks as everyone booed.” He then pretended to throw the device onto the ground and pretend to stomp on it, before storming away. It’s unknown at this stage what damage was done to the iPhone, if any.

Twitter was instantly aflutter courtesy of Microsoft employees, with one employee at the conference writing "you just don't pick up the CEO of Chevy in a BMW." Ballmer is still currently a hot topic on the social networking service, with some calling him an “idiot” and others describing him as “envious of the iPhone’s success”.

According to Techflash, “the scene was visible on the big screen, so even people in the upper deck could see what was happening. Later, during his presentation on stage, Ballmer referred to the episode again, teasing the person and making it clear that he hadn't forgotten what happened.”

There is currently no video available of the incident, however this story will be updated if and when such a video surfaces.