France Telecom CEO: Apple is 'A Little Less Arrogant Than They Used to Be'

France Telecom CEO Stephane Richard says Apple is becoming a bit easier to deal with under Tim Cook, reports AllThingsD.

“Apple has [become] more flexible, paying more attention to everyone else, probably a little less arrogant than they used to be,” France Telecom-Orange CEO Stephane Richard said during a dinner with reporters in Barcelona on Monday. Characterizing today’s Apple with the same company under Steve Jobs, Richard said, “I think they are probably a little more under pressure, and it is quite nice.”

Richard also commented on the various mobile operating systems such as Mozilla, Microsoft, BlackBerry and mobile Linux, that are vying for more consumer attention.


“There is probably not room for everyone,” Richard said. “But all of us hope that among those initiatives, at least one will be able to emerge as a third ecosystem.”

Richard believes that Windows Phone has a “very difficult” road to competing with iOS and Android since devices that run the OS aren't better nor do they offer better apps. They lack a "wow" factor.

“The Nokia family in my opinion is nice, but there is no ‘wow’ effect,” Richard said. “When you have a market with very steady players like Apple and Samsung, you need to have a ‘wow’ effect.”

In reference to BlackBerry, Richard thinks the company's new CEO is doing a good job; however, he still has a difficult road head.


“He is doing a great job, but I am not sure they will be successful,” Richard said. “At least they have a basis of very faithful users, which is not the case of Nokia.”

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