Want... Microsoft, the world's largest software maker, on March 18-19 held its WinHEC meeting in China's Shenzhen, aiming to display its free Windows 10 operating system, Guangzhou-based 21st Century Business Herald reports.
Over the past nine months, Microsoft has won 60 new partners in Shenzhen and has created 186 new products, said Ralph Haupter, chairman and CEO of Microsoft Greater China.
At the WinHEC meeting, Microsoft introduced the features of the free Windows 10 OS and announced a cooperative deal with Qihoo 360 Technology and Tencent Holdings, both of which will help them launch the free upgrade.
This indicates a major shift in Microsoft's business model, from selling software services.
Previously, Microsoft chiefly cooperated with original equipment manufacturing (OEM) companies by directly installing new operating systems on hardware products, but this time, by cooperating with Qihoo 360 and Tencent, any version of the Windows operating systems can be upgraded to Windows 10 free of charge via the software of the two internet partners.
In the PC field, Windows systems have taken the dominant position, having taken a 90.4% market share last year. Although market researcher Technalysis' recent report expects Windows' market share to drop to 88.7% this year, it remains dominant in the market.
"The Windows 10 upgrade will bring with us a very good opportunity to give clients and users a very good experience," said Terry Myerson, executive vice president of Microsoft's operating system division. "Not all people are willing to pay to purchase a Windows upgrade, but Microsoft won't see particularly large losses."
Microsoft hopes to earn profits from additional applications, offered on the free OS, said Myerson.
Microsoft hopes that Windows 10 can penetrate into the tablet PC and smartphone market, said Sun Yongjie, a senior analyst at the information technology (IT) industry.
Microsoft has previously announced that it would stop providing technical assistance for Windows XP after April 8, which led to a severe backlash on the Chinese market, as many government organs and the majority of the public were still running the much-loved platform. The offer of the free OS is likely the result of a compromise with Chinese authorities after several raids of Microsoft's China offices last year by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce for "antitrust violations."