Microsoft Continues Ambitious Push To Regain Leadership Role

How well Microsoft executes with its many product introductions this year will prove critical in whether it regains its position among technology’s movers and shakers, as we point out in this month’s feature: Can Microsoft Save Itself? This past week, Microsoft showed some promise when it announced important developments in Windows hardware, software and smartphones.

On Wednesday, at its Windows Phone Summit in San Francisco, the Redmond-based company released plans for Windows Phone 8, which refined and upgraded its mobile phones innovative tile-based Metro interface.

Among the most intriguing developments was a changeover in the core technology for its various versions of Windows 8. In practical terms, the company suggests that developers can now create software that will run on any/all Windows 8 computers, tablets, smartphones and the Xbox with only minor modifications for each platform.

In the best scenarion, consumers might be able to buy the same game or app and use it across the board on any Microsoft device. More likely, however, will be a situation in which the apps will be able to easily synch data and otherwise integrate closely with apps across all platforms.

Other features include support for powerful multicore processors (dual core and higher) to operate Windows 8 phones, a revamped start screen that will allow consumers to extensively customize the look and feel of their phone (tile resizing, more colors, etc.), an improved Internet browser, varying screen resolution choices up to HD (720p), and support for NFC technology which essentially makes paying for goods yet another cell phone function. More features will be rolled out over the next several months.

While the new technology seems well received thus far, one group that will not be happy are current owners of Windows Phones such as the heavily promoted Nokia 900, whose devices will not be capable of running the processor-heavy new software. Microsoft will release a so-called Version 7.8 that will bring the revised smart screen to their phones, but little else from the Windows Phone 8 developments.

On Monday in Los Angeles, Microsoft introduced Microsoft Surface: new Microsoft-manufactured hardware that virtually rewrites the definition of a personal computer: a tablet running the Windows 8 operating system with a choice of magnetically-attached covers featuring imbedded touch-sensitive keyboards and mousepads. Depending on which version you choose (there will be ARM and Intel versions) and which cover, a Surface system offers the promise of a fully functional tablet-sized Windows PC computer weighing less than 2 pounds.

Many questions remain unanswered about the Surface computers: the price, battery life, how hot they will be in operation. Many questions remain about how PC manufacturers will respond to the news that Microsoft is now essentially their competitor.

Whether these two developments are the game-changers that Microsoft hopes for remains to be seen. Much of their success will depend on the execution and details that are yet to come. But the ambitiousness of the efforts show the companys tenaciousness as it struggles to remain relevent not just to the enterprise customer but to the consumer as well.