While Microsoft seems to be making some solid progress, the regime of Steve Ballmer has been further tarnished by today’s announcement that the company is writing off $6.2 billion in their online services division. This loss is the result of Ballmer’s $6.3 billion acquisition of AQuantive which was an internet-advertising software provider. Ballmer was given the reigns of one of the best, if not the best business of its time, and unfortunately he has proven to be a very poor steward of shareholder capital. I have little doubt that if it weren’t for his cozy relationship with Bill Gates that he would have been replaced by now. I applaud the tablet and mobile phone ventures, but this is a company that has been regularly behind the curve and at some point Ballmer needs to be held accountable.
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