Bangalore: The CEO of the world’s largest software company is ready to walk on the footsteps of its rival.

Steve Ballmer, in a letter to his shareholders wrote that he sees Microsoft as a hardware and online service provider in the future, something that its arch rival Apple has been doing for decades. Ballmer foresees Microsoft manufacturing its own phones, tablets and piling up on the success of market’s leading gaming console Xbox.

This announcement explains how Microsoft is desperate to adopt the strategy that Apple follows integrating the high quality hardware and software and thus leading the market. Ballmer also emphasized that though Microsoft would continue working with its traditional hardware partners including Dell, Samsung, and HTC, Microsoft’s role in the industry is fast changing.

Microsoft has already got indulged in providing online services through SkyDrive and online Office applications but as Ballmer said there is a lot more to happen and the company will be making a significant shift from its traditional model of business.