Microsoft is "David" to Google's "Goliath"

Microsoft's chief executive has said the company has become a "David" to Google's "Goliath" in terms of internet search.

Speaking to the BBC, Steve Ballmer attributed this to the software firm's slowness to take advantage of it.

The chief executive said he wished Microsoft had started investing in internet search "a few years earlier" than it did.

"We may be the David up against Goliath but we're working on it," he continued.

Commenting on the recent launch of the first phone based on Google's open-source Android operating platform - the T-Mobile G1 - Mr Ballmer said such a solution would not be attractive to phone manufacturers.

The chief executive concluded by predicting that Windows Mobile phones would remain ahead to competitors such as Apple's iPhone, Blackberry and Google Android in the smartphone sector.

"You've got to remember Android is version one... and it looks like version one," he said.