Microsoft and Adobe Against iPhone?

According to a New York Times Bits blog report, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen met recently to discuss joint strategies to defeat Apple’s iOS platform. The story said a merger of the two companies was discussed.

In the Bits blog post, Nick Bilton reported that Microsoft had considered a purchase of Adobe in the past.

    "One person familiar with the discussion said the two companies had talked about the blockade that Apple’s chief executive, Steven P. Jobs, had placed on Adobe’s Flash software for its handheld devices and whether a partnership by Adobe and Microsoft could fend off Apple, which continues to grow at juggernaut speeds."

In the past week, many technological and strategic issues were raised about the Web platform strategies for both companies.
At the recent October Microsoft Professional Developers Conference, Mary Jo Foley reported that there was little mention of Silverlight, Microsoft’s Web content platform and competitor to Adobe Flash.

But let’s face it. How can our confidence in Microsoft and Adobe be strong – together or on their lonesome – when it appears that they lack the competence to hold secret meetings? That’s another thing that Apple certainly does right: the cone of silence. If you can’t get that right, how will they perfect a coherent Web platform strategy and/or technology that will work successfully without killing battery performance mobile devices.