The co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, admits that his greatest mistake was allowing Google to develop Android OS. He said that he wished he had created a successful smartphone operating system too. He also added that this mistake had cost the company $400 billion.

Gates made these known in a conversation with Eventbrite CEO Julia Hartz. He said: “The greatest mistake ever is the whatever mismanagement I engaged in that caused Microsoft not to be what Android is. Android is the standard non-Apple phone form platform. That was a natural thing for Microsoft to win.”

“It really is winner take all. If you’re there with half as many apps or 90% as many apps, you’re on your way to complete doom. There’s room for exactly one non-Apple operating system, and what’s that worth? $400 billion that would be transferred from company G [Google] to company M [Microsoft],” he added.

As Bill Gates confirmed, Microsoft had tried to make phones that will operate using the Windows OS, but they did not succeed at it. The phones did not do well in the market compared to others using the Android and iPhone Operating Systems.

The problem may have had to do with the Windows OS’ inability to retain developed apps in its app store. The Windows phones were phased out in 2017 only seven years after they launched in 2010.

Gates, recovering from the regret, said, “We are a leading company. If we got that one right, we would be the company. But oh well.”

Microsoft presently has a market cap of $1.05 trillion, making it the most valuable company in the world. It competes very closely with Amazon and Apple who are also doing very well in the market.