In the 30 days since its release, Microsoft (NASDAQ:
MSFT
) has sold 40 million licenses of Windows 8. On the
official Windows blog
, Microsoft revealed that the new, touch-friendly operating
system has outpaced its predecessor, Windows 7, in terms of
upgrades.
At the rate Windows 8 is currently selling, Microsoft is
moving roughly 1.3 million licenses every day. If that rate is
maintained through the new year, the company could easily achieve
its estimate of
400 million Windows 8 devices
in 2013. That estimate -- which came direct from Microsoft CEO
Steve Ballmer -- assumes that there will be 400 million Windows 8
and Windows Phone 8 devices
produced
next year. Ballmer made no estimate of how many licenses the
company would actually sell. But it seems that the company may be
able to sell 400 million licenses regardless. And it might not
even need the help of Windows Phone 8.
Worldwide PC shipments are expected to reach
367.2 million
in 2012. This excludes tablets but includes laptop/tablet
hybrids. If fewer PCs are shipped next year (as currently
estimated), Windows 8 licenses would still get a massive boost
just from the sale of whatever new computers make it to
retail.
And because Windows 8 was optimized for touch screens and
tablets, it is unlikely to suffer in the wake of
declining PC sales
. It does not matter if a million consumers buy the Surface Pro
or the HP Envy x2 -- either way, another million Windows 8
licenses will be sold.
Thus far, investors have approached Windows 8 with the same
attitude as a new Apple (NASDAQ:
AAPL
) product -- with cautious optimism. From October 25 (the day
before Windows 8 was released) to November 6, Microsoft shares
rose more than seven percent. The stock has been up more than two
percent over the last five days but is still reeling from a
three-month decline of more than 11 percent. Year-to-date
Microsoft is up more than one percent.
Microsoft has yet to say how many Surface RT units have been
sold, but Ballmer
recently said
that sales are "starting modestly" and that the supply shortages
are a "good sign." The company is expected to release Surface
Pro, which will run the full version of Windows 8, in
January.
This may only be the beginning of Microsoft's manufacturing
efforts. Earlier this week
DigiTimes
reported that Microsoft had commissioned Foxconn to manufacture a
new smartphone. Amazon (NASDAQ:
AMZN
) has reportedly done the same. Instead of enlisting in the help
of a partner (as Google (NASDAQ:
GOOG
) did when producing the Nexus 4), both Microsoft and Amazon are
expected to produce their handsets independently.
Microsoft is also
rumored to be developing
an
Xbox-themed tablet
. The device, thought by many to be a seven-inch version of
Surface, will be dedicated to video games. If the rumors are
true, this would be the first time that Microsoft has produced a
handheld gaming device.
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