Microsoft's Ballmer: Google Reads Your Mail 264
Anonymous writes "A piece of video has emerged in which Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says of Google, 'they read your mail and we don't.' Evidently, it was part of a lengthy discussion on the future of the software business model, and whether advertising could support free consumer software. Ballmer said it doesn't work, at least when it comes to email. '"That's just a factual statement, not even to be pejorative. The theory was if we read your mail, if somebody read your mail, they would know what to talk to you about. It's not working out as brilliantly as the concept was laid out." Ballmer isn't the first to fire salvos at Google's Gmail privacy policy. Privacy advocates have been critical over the policy almost since the beginning, but the popularity of the service has skyrocketed nonetheless.'"
The sky is falling! The sky is falling! (Score:5, Funny)
It's official... Google reads your email! Be afraid! Be VERY afraid! It must be true, because Steve Ballmer of Microsoft says so, and we all know how decent Steve is!
Ahem.
Excuse me, I got carried away here for just a second.
By the way, if you don't want anyone to read your email, don't use gmail, hotmail or yahoo mail... But do use GPG and a local email client, other than Outlook... mmmmmkay?
I knew it (Score:5, Funny)
Your honesty as a corporate leader shines us all.
Re:Okay, and? (Score:2, Funny)
("Sometimes I wish the government would actually kill conspiracy theorists, even if it were just to prove them right")
The full quote... (Score:4, Funny)
After a few minutes of his "developers" chant, Ballmer was reported as throwing chairs at every googly seeming person in the room.
Re:Yeah! (Score:3, Funny)
Well, at least we know they will know where to search for us!
Re:What a crock (Score:5, Funny)
Re:What a crock (Score:5, Funny)
Re:What a crock (Score:3, Funny)
Please quote completely (Score:5, Funny)
they read your mail and we don't
Ballmers Proof (Score:3, Funny)
To: eric.schmidt@msn.com
Re: Reading user's gmail
Eric,
Sounds like a great idea.
S.
Re:What a crock (Score:2, Funny)
BadAnalogyMan says... (Score:3, Funny)
This is like a ginormous soot-stained, pitted, dented and immobile pot which has been simmering for the last twenty-five years calling the nearby, newish and rapidly expanding kettle made from stainless steel which is now somewhat more rusty than it was in 1998, black.
BTW Google reads your slashdot comments too.
Steve: (Score:4, Funny)
Sincerely,
The Internet