Tonight, the American giant is expected to unveil the new version of its operating system. A crucial step in his career behind Apple and Google.
Restart. Microsoft would be entitled to a second chance to rewrite the nightmarish sequence in recent years. One that has seen the world of electronics swept three bursts: smartphones, tablets and the cloud – computing on demand. On arrival, PC vendors and software to the former have the spleen, but it is the firm that depresses Bill Gates. It plays a large part of its future on the new version of its operating system, to be unveiled Tuesday evening.
For the moment, we do not yet know what exactly look like the new Windows – code-named “Threshold.” A priori, it is the return of a Start button remastered. The Web also abuzz with the rumor of a free for those who already have Windows 8
The only certainty is that matters, the importance of the topic to Microsoft. Windows is the keystone of its offer. Based on its cloud services, its software, its ecosystem of devices. This is especially the launch where everyone expects Satya Nadella, who arrived at the helm in February. This summer, the successor to Steve Ballmer explained want to do the Redmond giant champion of productivity for the company, anchored in the mobile and cloud. Before laying off 18,000 people who did not fit the project. But his first big acquisition was that of Minecraft, a video game …
The challenge of free
“ This will be a big launch, which can put an end to the debate on the vision of Nadella. With people who are used to the free OS from Google and Apple, Microsoft’s position on the subject will be very interesting , “said Craig Slice, an analyst at IHS. Sooner or later, Windows reinvent over free updates. Like its competitors. “ Sure, Microsoft is on the defensive in recent years. They will continue to invest in Windows and do everything they can to break into mobile devices , said Crawford Del Prete, Director at IDC. Microsoft is hungry and has a lot of money . “
Satya Nadella is he willing to sacrifice much for now as impressive annuity that he gives Windows (25% of revenues and 38% of operating income in 2013). It is possible: since February, he has already made the free Windows Phone operating system on smartphones and minitablettes. And, unthinkable before, he proposed the Office suite … on the iPad.
change to last, the stakes are high. For the days when Microsoft dominated the screens already belongs to the past. If Windows team more than 9 out of 10 computers, it no longer runs on 14% of all devices, including PCs, according to Gartner. The lion’s share is now up to Google, with its Android, very popular on smartphones and tablets. Worse, with the stagnation in PC sales and the failure so far of Microsoft in mobile – where he still weighs less than 5% of the market in spite of all his efforts – the positions of the group could still crumble.
Recreate the magic
Unless the new Windows changes the game. “ In my opinion, they have everything you need. A large customer base, a good cloud platform. Even assets in the general public, with Skype or XBox console One decrypts a competitor. Their challenge is to bring it all into a coherent whole. And drawing . ” The appeal of the brand is crucial, confirms the European leader of another software giant: “ Their products are pretty good, but nobody wants THAT Microsoft products … they absolutely must create this Magic . ” The upcoming opening of a flagship store planted in the heart of Fifth Avenue in New York could help.
It will also convince for good developers – “The road is still long in the matter” , noted Roberta Cozza, an analyst at Gartner. Not to keep computer manufacturers, who are turning more and more to Google. Samsung confirmed last week that he stopped selling Windows computers in Europe … Certainly, Korean is the biggest seller of Android. But still.
Check
Timeline: Microsoft
Note
After a false start, Microsoft yesterday launched the sale of its XBox One China.
Julien Dupont-Calbo, Les Echos
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