Android is wild and uncontrolled, says Microsoft CEO

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has been taking some official on-the-record snipes at Google’s market-dominating Android platform. 

In an interview with LinkedIn Founder Reid Hoffman, Ballmer described Android as ‘wild,’ ‘uncontrolled’ and susceptible to malware, according to Tech Crunch. 

On the subject of Apple, Ballmer said its products are ‘high priced’ and ‘very controlled.’

So what does that make Windows Phone? Is Ballmer trying to convince us that his company’s platform and hardware are a happy medium – a legitimate third way? It certainly sounds that way. 

According to AllThingsD, when asked about Microsoft's recent Surface launch and competing directly with hardware partners, the CEO said that he anticipated others [Microsoft’s hardware partners] would continue to make ‘the lion's share’ of PCs, tablets, and phones.

He added: ‘it is absolutely clear there is an innovation opportunity on the seam (of the intersection) between software and hardware… that is a seam that must not go unexploited by Microsoft.’

Ballmer also confirmed that Microsoft still has a lot of work to do in the ‘under five-inches’ category, adding further weight to theories concerning a Surface-brand smartphone. 

Latest reports and rumour suggest that Microsoft will launch its first smartphone in Q1 2013.