Should the Redmond software giant stick to playing in its own sandpit?

Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer has defended his company’s broad-ranging raids on new markets, and said such moves help it to attract, inspire and keep staff.

Some critics have recently taken aim at Microsoft for chasing fields such as web browsing, security software and search, arguing that the company should leave these markets to others.

However, at the Institute of Directors’ annual conference in London last week, Ballmer said that continual expansion of markets is necessary to attract ambitious staff. “Our ability to turn our ship around in internet browsing inspired our people,” he argued.

Ballmer said Microsoft’s developments include work on firms’ use of paper. “There’s more paper consumed today than 10 years ago. Why? Because we haven’t made reading on a screen a superior reading experience,” he added.