Bill Gates' Shocking Role in Microsoft’s Mobile Failure: Android Co-Founder Drops a Bombshell

Microsoft's struggle to dominate the mobile phone industry is no secret, but the revelations from Rich Miner, co-founder of Android, have taken the tech world by storm. In a scathing post, Miner blamed Microsoft’s iconic founder, Bill Gates, for the company’s colossal failure in the smartphone market. The missed opportunity cost Microsoft billions and reshaped the entire technology landscape.

A Battle That Could Have Changed the Smartphone Industry

The smartphone revolution of the 2000s saw two major platforms emerge victorious—Android and iOS. However, the story could have been drastically different had Microsoft taken the right steps. The company opted to develop Windows Phone rather than acquiring or partnering with Android. This decision, according to Miner, wasn’t just a business misstep; it was part of a larger narrative of stifled innovation and corporate hubris.

Miner didn’t hold back, stating on X (formerly Twitter):

"I literally helped create Android to prevent Microsoft from controlling the phone the way they did the PC—stifling innovation. So it's always funny for me to hear Gates whine about losing mobile to Android."

Bill Gates' $400 Billion Regret

Bill Gates has often described Microsoft’s failure to dominate mobile as one of his biggest regrets, lamenting that it cost the company over $400 billion in market value. This recurring acknowledgment has drawn sympathy from many in the tech industry, but Miner’s revelations provide a harsh counterpoint.

Miner’s bombshell tweet added fuel to the fire:

"It’s hilarious to hear Gates complain about losing to Android. We built it to stop them from monopolizing the phone market as they did with PCs."

The Android co-founder even teased sharing the original pitch deck for the operating system, giving audiences a glimpse of how Android was conceived to disrupt Microsoft’s ambitions.

The Rise of Android and the Fall of Windows Phone

Rich Miner’s journey began with helping Orange and HTC build the first Windows-powered device, the Orange SPV, in 2002. But witnessing Microsoft’s approach to mobile innovation inspired him to pursue a more open platform—Android. Fast-forward to 2025, and Android dominates the mobile OS market, with Apple’s iOS following closely.

Meanwhile, Microsoft’s foray into the mobile ecosystem ended in disaster. Windows Phone, despite its potential, couldn’t compete with Android’s openness and Apple’s tightly controlled ecosystem. Even high-profile collaborations with Nokia through the Lumia series failed to save Microsoft’s mobile ambitions.

What If Microsoft Had Acquired Android?

One of the most tantalizing "what-ifs" in tech history is whether Microsoft could have acquired Android. Had they acted early, the smartphone landscape might have looked radically different. Instead, Google’s acquisition of Android in 2005 positioned it as the biggest disruptor in the mobile market, forever changing the dynamics of the industry.

Nokia: A Casualty of Microsoft’s Mobile Missteps

Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia’s mobile business was another costly mistake. The Lumia series showed promise but was too little, too late. Eventually, Microsoft sold its Nokia stake to HMD Global, which now licenses the Nokia brand for Android-powered smartphones and dominates the feature phone segment.

Rich Miner’s Vision: An Open Mobile Ecosystem

Rich Miner’s vision of an open mobile ecosystem stands in stark contrast to Microsoft’s approach. By keeping Android open, Miner and Google created a platform that developers and manufacturers could embrace globally. This strategy allowed Android to flourish, giving consumers a choice and fostering innovation that Microsoft’s restrictive Windows Phone ecosystem simply couldn’t match.

Source: For the full story, visit News18.com.