Ballmer confident, but admits failings

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has confessed the software giant's .NET interoperability efforts with IBM and Sun have slowed, says he's accepted SQL Server's shortcomings, and vowed to keep fighting search giant Google.

He made the comments Monday at a partner briefing in Sydney on the first day of a whirlwind Australian tour.

In the country for two days of talks with employees, major customers and the business community, Ballmer met with a group of state government CIOs as well as federal health minister Tony Abbott.

A representative for Abbot confirmed the meeting but declined to reveal further details.

Later, a typically enthusiastic Ballmer addressed about 500 partner attendees, who grilled the CEO on all things Microsoft.

Asked about the future of Microsoft's .NET strategy, Ballmer admitted the platform's interoperability work with IBM and Sun had stalled slightly. But there would be a renewed .NET push, he said, and this was "an assigned priority" for the government sector.

"Government has really been pushing for stronger interoperability," he said. "We can't support open source but we can support interoperability."

Another partner complained of SQL Server's lack of spatial storage capabilities, saying the database was being beaten by Oracle.

This may be addressed in the next release (of SQL Server) in 18 months, Ballmer said, but conceded he "really didn't know".

A question on location-based services saw Ballmer plug Microsoft's "heavy investment" in mapping. But when a participant asked why MapPoint had not expanded to Southeast Asia so such services could be built, Ballmer was stumped.

"I didn't know we weren't doing well there," he said. "I'll address that with the team vigorously."

Going after Google
Ballmer saved the best for last, firing a salvo at Google.

"What you're saying is, 'You're so far behind, why bother'?" he said, when pressed to reaffirm Microsoft's commitment to search technology as it struggles to catch up with Google.

"Well, if anyone thinks innovation is done in search, you're wrong. Does anyone here really believe search is going to look like it does now in 10 years?" he asked attendees.

He claimed Microsoft's long-term view was already making ground on Google.

"In the next six months, we'll catch Google in terms of relevancy," he said.

Search has more relevance than just the desktop, he said, reiterating Microsoft's well-known stance. "It's important for people who search a corporate network," he said. "We'll use search to peer into a range of business applications which would allow multiple applications to be searched simultaneously."

"Take for instance the Siebel database," he added. "Now, I've never used that interface. But I'd love to go to it and say 'Who is the account manager for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia?'"

Microsoft's vision for search would eventually make such data discoverable, without using the actual application.

"This is important for our customers, but also in joining the battle with Google," he said. "Give up the fight? No, never."

Steve Deare reported from Sydney for ZDNet Australia. For more ZDNet Australia stories, click here.