Article

Analysts to Discuss the Fate of Windows 8 in a World of Mobile Competition, Balanced by Tablets

by Bridget McCrea
Contributing Writer,

If analysts at Stamford, Conn.-based research firm Gartner, Inc., are on target, then Microsoft's two powerhouse products could fall out of favor in place of products that have integrated and/or adapted to the mobile revolution. Analysts will hash out this issue at the upcoming Gartner Symposium/ITxpo, which will take place October 21-25.

At the heart of the discussion are Microsoft's two biggest products - Windows and Office - and whether they've stayed relevant in a world where mobile device usage is on the upswing.

"When the PC dominated personal computing by providing a single device for messaging, Internet access, gaming, and productivity, Windows was a powerhouse for Microsoft," said Michael Silver, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner. "However, smartphones and tablets, led by the iPhone and iPad, have changed the way people work, making the PC just one of several devices people use. The PC is increasingly simply a peer with other devices."

With its new Windows 8 operating system, Microsoft's answer to the mobile movement involved adding a tablet interface to its popular system. That approach differs from that of Apple and Google, both of which operate in a space where "phones and tablets" have much more commonality than "PCs and tablets," according to Silver, who sees that as an advantage of Microsoft.

Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM product teams have also been taking steps to keep the Windows 8 tablet and mobile conversations relevant, though it's still early days.  The Dynamics CRM team, for example, is in the process of updating its tablet and mobile strategy.

Dynamics AX Dynamics CRM Dynamics GP Mobile Applications Tablet
About Bridget McCrea

Bridget McCrea covers business and technology topics for various publications. She can be reached at bridgetmc@earthlink.net.

More about Bridget McCrea