Microsoft takes jab at Google privacy woes with newspaper ad as ARM CEO downplays Android tablets

With Google addressing concerns from Congress regarding its new privacy policy yesterday, Microsoft is taking advantage by running advertisements in major United States newspapers detailing the negative changes in Google’s new policy and simultaneously promoting its own rival services. Here is an excerpt from the ad:

“The way they’re doing it is making it harder for you to maintain control of your personal information. Why are they so interested in doing this that they would risk this kind of backlash? One logical reason: Every data point they collect and connect to you increases how valuable you are to an advertiser.”

The company announced the ad campaign, which will run in papers like USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times, on The Official Microsoft Blog this morning in a post titled, “Gone Google? Got Concerns? We Have Alternatives.” The full ad (via The Verge) is after the break. PaidContent reported Google is also pushing ads of its own on WashingtonPost.com as part of its Good To Know campaign that read “We’re changing our Privacy Policy. Not your privacy controls.”

In related news, ARM CEO Warren East talked at the company’s earnings call this morning about how Windows 8 tablets could soon eat into Android’s market share. Here is what he said (via Cnet):

“Consumers are familiar with Microsoft and very familiar with Windows and they’re less familiar with an Android environment. Microsoft has an awareness advantage with consumers that the Android folks didn’t have…It’s up to Microsoft [and we’ll see] how well they’re going to exploit that advantage. But I think that’s a fundamental difference.”

He did, however, talk about Android potential for growth in the tablet market, and he said, “We should give Android tablets a little bit more time.”

“Actually when Android phones were introduced, there was a lot of hype. And then, actually, they didn’t take off in the sort of way that reflected that hype. Then a few years later–two years later–half a million units a day, 700,000 units a day. [Android phones now are] really…a very successful product.”