It's yet another sign that Microsoft is no longer the biggest dog in the tech world: Its executives are taking pot shots at competitors, but in a way that underscores the company's own difficulties.

Speaking at the company's Worldwide Partner Conference, chief operating officer Kevin Turner took aim at Apple over problems with the iPhone 4.

"It looks like the iPhone 4 might be their Vista, and I'm OK with that," he said.

Windows Vista, of course, was the much-criticized and relatively unsuccessful version of Microsoft's operating system that launched in 2007.

Although the iPhone 4 has sold well and seen praise for many of its features, Apple too has faced complaints-- about the design of the antenna, which has been found to drop calls in certain circumstances. It's a problem that Mr. Turner couldn't keep from pointing out when discussing Microsoft's upcoming smartphone. "You're going to be able to use a Windows Phone 7 and not have to worry about how you're holding it to make a phone call," Mr. Turner told attendees. He went as far as to say Apple's misstep had him doing figurative "cartwheels."