Steve Ballmer Uncertain Over Microsoft Silverlight Future

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A year back we had extensively discussed the features and future of Microsoft Silverlight. Initially, it was anticipated as the hottest technology from the Redmond based company that was most likely to  transform the future of web and generate a runtime alternative for present day OSs. Microsoft claims Silverlight to be a cross-device, cross-browser, cross-platform solution that works same on Macs as it does on Windows. In November-end last year, Microsoft’s Platform manager Goldfarb had announced that they are working with Apple to introduce Silverlight for iPhone.  However, the future of Silverlight seems bleak after Steve Ballmer’s statement at D8 while answering to a question from an audience - Will Silverlight be used for Android or iPhone?

Ballmer didn’t have a straight answer to this question from the floor, but provided a half-baked reply, “My guess is if it did, it would be blocked”, unclear about the Android part of the question.

What remains unanswered is why Microsoft will continue to develop a product that has no future, given that Microsoft lacks a stronghold in smartphone arena. He could’ve mentioned that SIlverlight would be available on iPhone as soon as Apple sanctions it. More so, he could have talked about their tie with Google for developing an Android port. Given these, Ballmer could have taken it to Nokia Symbian port.

Ballmer makes a dubious remark that included no hint about the future of Microsoft Silverlight.

With all said and done, Microsoft Silverlight plus Visual Studio plus Microsoft’s server applications forms a great platform extending beyond the boundaries of Windows platform.

For those waiting to have a first-hand experience of the product can look forward to Microsoft Silverlight download here.