Former Microsoft CEO Ballmer laments falling behind in mobile

Former Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) CEO Steve Ballmer has been off the job for one month but he's reflecting on his time leading the software giant and regrets not moving sooner to integrate mobile hardware and software. Speaking at the University of Oxford, Ballmer said that Microsoft is a well-capitalized company and that if it does not succeed, "it's about catching the next wave of innovation."

Microsoft is close to finalizing a $7.5 billion deal for Nokia's (NYSE:NOK) handset business, which will give Microsoft access to both in-house hardware and software, just as Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) has. "In the last 10 years, there are things that didn't go so well," Ballmer said. "We would have had a strong position in the phone market. The thing I regret is that we didn't put hardware and software together quicker." Article