By
Tim Beyers
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February 11, 2013
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Much has been made of Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL ) ) $137 billion in cash and investments. So much so that we forget Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT ) was once so cash rich that it dispensed with a $3 per share special dividend. Today, Mr. Softy has $50 billion more cash and investments than debt.
What to do with all this moola? Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer touched on an interesting idea in a recent interview with Bloomberg Businessweek. After being challenged about the future growth prospects for Office in a developed world populated with Windows PCs, Ballmer referred to the developing world.
"That's sort of the miracle of economic development, isn't it? More and more people enter the class of information workers and knowledge workers," he said, as if today's underprivileged would one day become Microsoft customers.
It's an intriguing idea, says Tim Beyers of Motley Fool Rule Breakers and Motley Fool Supernova. In fact, Tim sees it as a rare moment for Mr. Softy to get out in front of Apple. Do you agree? Disagree? Please watch the video and then leave a comment to let us know what you think.
It's been a frustrating path for Microsoft investors, who've watched the company fail to capitalize on the incredible growth in mobile over the past decade. However, with the release of its own tablet, along with the widely anticipated Windows 8 operating system, the company is looking to make a splash in this booming market. In this brand-new premium report on Microsoft, our analyst explains that while the opportunity is huge, the challenges are many. He's also providing regular updates as key events occur, so make sure to claim a copy of this report now by clicking here.
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