Microsoft Corp's Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer laughed off the challenge that Google Inc's planned operating system has posed to the software giant.

Google is developing two client operating systems, one is Android, an OS for smartphones and the second is Chrome OS, which is expected to challenge Microsoft's Windows 7.

Steve Ballmer said, while answering questions at a conference for the company's technology partners in New Orieans, "To me the Chrome OS thing is highly interesting--it won't happen for a year and a half and they already announced an operating system (Android)."

Earlier, last week, during an interview with Stephen Elop from CNET News, Steve Ballmer had said he had no idea what Chrome OS would look like.

He also spoke his mind that by saying that Microsoft didn't require to imitate Google's move.

However he expressed the need for Microsoft to carry on evolving Windows, Windows Applications and Internet Explorer.

In addition, Steve Ballmer said Microsoft would not quit its advertising strategies that target Apple.