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It’s hard to compete with free. Google currently dominates the smartphone space by giving away its Android operating system for free to anyone that wants to install it. If Google makes money from Android, it’s largely due to revenue from apps sold in the Play Store and the increased use of Google services by Android customers.
So maybe it shouldn’t be all that surprising that Microsoft is considering giving away Windows Phone and Windows RT software for free to device makers that want to use it. But it still kind of is… because Microsoft has historically made a huge chunk of its money by licensing operating systems.
Still, the world has changed since Bill Gates started working on DOS, and The Verge reports that Microsoft is seriously considering offering free versions of its software. The move could help Microsoft gain market share, and it could theoretically then make up for lost revenue with in-app ads, subscription services, and revenue from apps sold in the Windows Store.
Here’s a roundup of tech news from around the web.
- Microsoft might offer Windows RT, Windows Phone for free to device makers
At this point Nokia sells the lion’s share of Windows Phone devices and it’s the only company besides Microsoft to sell Windows RT devices… and Microsoft is buying Nokia. So it wasn’t going to get much money from licensing these operating systems anyway. [The Verge] - Report: Upcoming Nokia Normandy could be a low-end Android phone
Nokia’s smartphone efforts may currently be tied up in Windows Phone and Asha devices… but it looks like the company might have a low-end Android handset in the works. [The Verge] - Early version of Valve’s SteamOS launches Friday
SteamOS is a Linux-based operating system designed to run Valve’s Steam gaming platform, and Steam Machines will be computers built to run the OS. The first beta units go out on Friday, December 13th, and Valve will release the first public builds of the operating system at the same time, for folks who don’t get one of the 300 beta units. [Valve] - Google releases Android Device Manager app for Android
Want to locate your missing phone, send a remote lock or wipe command? Now you can do that from… your phone. Or you know, another Android device. [Google Play] - Google Play Books now lets you upload eBooks from an Android device
Have EPUB books on your phone that you didn’t get from Google, but that you’d like to read with Play Books? Now you can upload them from your Android phone or tablet. [Android Police] - Sailfish OS ported to run on the Nokia N9
Want to run Sailfish (the spiritual successor to MeeGo) on the Nokia N9, an aging MeeGo phone? Now you can. [The Register] - OwnCloud 6 released, build your own personal cloud services
Like the idea of a web-based calendar, contact manager, and file storage service, but don’t want to give your data to Google, Apple, Microsoft, or others? Just roll your own, using this open source tool. [Web Upd8] - Qualcomm’s Toq Smartwatch is now available from Amazon for $350
Want a smartwatch with a display you don’t have to turn off? This model has Qualcomm’s low-power, sunlight-readable Mirasol display. Unfortunately it isn’t cheap. [Amazon]
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Microsoft shouldn’t make WP and RT license fee free until after they either merge the two OSs or drop one. No better way to burn a bridge than luring people in, only to leave them hanging shortly after.
delighted with own cloud.
They should also rename windows phone. Call it xbox phone or something that doesn’t include the words “windows” or “microsoft” and people might actually consider it.
The Mainreason Microsoft is concidering this Move is the Fact that Nokia is currently representing far in excess of 80% of the Windows Phone Market, and there is little Point in paying License Fees to themselves once the Aquisition of Nokias Hardware Business is done.
Well, great point right there!
Good marketing from MS – telling public they are considering giving away something for free while in reality its just a logical thing to do.
I wonder, however, if this will mean cheaper Windows phones?
Don’t expect cheaper Nokia Devices, but if Chinese manufactures jump on board, which they certainly would, then you will see incredibly cheap (In price and quality) Windows phones and RT devices.
It’s actually 90%, which furthers your argument.
https://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2013/11/27/nokia-now-controls-90-windows-phone-8-market-low-end-lumia-520-accounting-35-share/
This would be a very smart move on Microsoft’s part. Realistically this is knocking $25 off many phones – and if you take into account he manufacturers that pay royalties to Microsoft they will probably see that as a chance to have $25 profit.
I quite like Windows Phone (though, I wish they’d hurry up and help Pebble work). I am so sick of the direction Android is headed.
I’d jump on RT if it was Windows 8 that just so happens to run on an ARM device. I don’t mind losing compatibility with non-Windows 8 software but it would be great to run Windows 8 targeted desktop apps on ARM. This would at least be possible for C# and .NET targeted programs since they’re not compiled to machine code but to managed code.
I hope this means we can stop seeing windows phones with locked bootloaders… one can dream right?
I suspect Microsoft is just scrambling desperately as their candle flickers out.
If the Microsoft toll on Android devices is not significant (for example,
if it’s $20 per device or less), offering Win Phone or Win RT for free is
likely not going to make much of a difference in market shares.
The toll may even be reduced or eliminated depending on what’s
going on in the EU. If the EU throws out the toll, Microsoft may
even have to drop the price of x86 Windows licensing.
Reducing x86 Windows licensing fees is going to have a bigger
impact than making Phone or RT free. However, even this step
might not change things much as the public is used to
instant-on, quick launching lightweight apps in mobile,
vs bloated programs or the cumbersome OS that
x86 Windows offers.
“vs bloated programs or the cumbersome OS that
x86 Windows offers.”
which I as a gamer unfortunately have to bear…
I wish someone would figure out how to install rt on nexus 7. I would try it out in a heartbeat.