Will Bill Gates step down as Microsoft chief?

It was almost an year ago that Microsoft boss Bill Gates announced that he would step down from the company's day-to-day operations from 2008 to devote all his time to his $33-billion philanthropic foundation.

One year has passed since his startling declaration, but there are no apparent signs that Gates is ready to step away, said The New York Times.

At Microsoft's annual general meeting last week, Gates is said to have outlined the company's decade-long agenda sparking off skepticism that the Microsoft soft might not step down just yet, considering that the software giant is going through one of its toughest times with its dominance being challenged by Google and others, said The New York Times.

Wall Street analysts believe that Gates might not step away if Microsoft is to retain its edge in the face of the enormous challenges it faces. The NYT said, quoting a Harvard don, that Gates founded the company 32 years ago and it will be very difficult for him to walk away now that Microsoft is seeking to grab more success and tide over new challenges.

Gates himself, however, told the NYT in an interview that he has already begun to step back.

Grapevine has it that Bill Gates's shoes will most likely be filled by Microsoft Corp's long-term strategic thinker, chief research and strategy officer Craig Mundie. Mundie will have the daunting task of positioning and growing the company in the post-Gates era.

The other stalwart at Microsoft is Ray Ozzie, the software major's chief software architect.

In the interview, where Mundie and Ozzie were both present, Ozzie said that the 'greatest danger' for Microsoft would be if Bill Gates 'continues to make decisions while not staying deeply involved.'

Gates said he planned to remain 'deeply involved' in a few areas indefinitely, said NYT.

The Times said that Gates does not attend senior leadership team meetings anymore. But even as he gives away control of the company to Mundie and Ozzie, Microsoft finds itself in the midst of radical transition in the computer industry.

So while the industry and the stock markets speculate whether Bill Gates will step down from the day-to-day operations of Microsoft, while remaining its chairman, the company itself is going full speed ahead with the launch of new software and Internet services.

Meanwhile, Bill Gates sold 2 million shares of common stock for $30.72 to $31.48, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Microsoft executives Bill Gates (R) and Craig Mundie (L) view software projects during Microsoft's Imagine Cup competition at the company's headquarters June 26, 2007 in Redmond, Washington.

Photograph: Dan Levine/AFP/Getty Images