Microsoft Testing License-Free Windows Phone
Microsoft is experimenting with license-free Windows Phone in India.
What better way is there to saturate the market with your operating system than to offer it for free? Google figured out the benefits, and now it seems that Microsoft may be taking the same route with Windows Phone 8. Microsoft wants a bigger piece of the smartphone market pie, and insiders believe the path begins in India.
During Mobile World Congress 2014, Microsoft said that more phone makers will produce Windows Phone 8 devices in the coming months, including Lava and Karbonn in India. Sources claim that the Redmond company is currently in talks with local firms in India to produce affordable Windows Phone 8 devices. However, the company is only able to land deals if it waives the licensing fee.
The news is both shocking and expected, as rumors have circulated over the last several months that Microsoft was considering lifting the licensing fee for Windows Phone. Typically, the company charges between $23 and $30 USD per device, which adds up when you sell millions of phones. But Android has managed to overtake the market without costing device makers anything, and the only way to beat Google at its game, it seems, is to play by the same rules.
"For our planned Windows Phone handsets, we are not paying Microsoft a license fee. The company is obviously exploring new models for Windows Phone. It must have realized that the older model where it licensed the OS did not work out well, even with Nokia's support," a senior executive with an Indian phone company told TOI.
A separate executive acknowledged that the partnership is an experiment. "Windows Phone still doesn't have lot of appeal in the market but now that it doesn't have any license fee, it becomes easier for us to experiment with it," the executive said. As it stands now, Windows Phone has less than 10 percent of the market share in India, according to IDC.
Manasi Yadav, a senior market analyst at IDC, told TOI that local device makers are comfortable with Android. However, by making Windows Phone free, these device makers will feel more confident in experimenting with the Microsoft platform.
A number of new Windows Phone 8.1 devices will likely make a grand entrance next month during BUILD 2014. Microsoft is also expected to release Windows 8.1 Update 1, the LTE version of Surface 2, and possibly the Surface Mini.
Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.
Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
-
Kieran Warren If they want to make money out of it still then they would need to offer better products on the store. Google offer all kinds of TV shows, movies, books, magazines alongside the apps and this is where they make their money on android (apart from ads). So Microsoft would really need to step up their game in this area if they want it to be profitable. Personally I feel a paid system allows more money to go directly to development and would prefer it, even if it means the phone costs a little bit extra.Reply -
memadmax LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!WIN8 sucks so bad they are now trying TO GIVE IT AWAY!!!!LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!My face hurts... ^.^Reply -
11796pcs Typical Microsoft, late to the party and now trying to make up for lost time. I'm not saying Windows Phone should have been free from the beginning, but Microsoft should have wizened up years ago when they saw their market share stagnating.Reply -
drwho1 Microsoft Testing License-Free Windows Operating System.....That's what I read.... Too bad, it would make a lot of sense.Notice that I never said a FREE OS, just an OS without License Fees, this would result in a less inflated price/cost to the consumer. As for the phone, I really just don't care.Reply -
CaedenV Reply12897105 said:If they want to make money out of it still then they would need to offer better products on the store. Google offer all kinds of TV shows, movies, books, magazines alongside the apps and this is where they make their money on android (apart from ads). So Microsoft would really need to step up their game in this area if they want it to be profitable. Personally I feel a paid system allows more money to go directly to development and would prefer it, even if it means the phone costs a little bit extra.
Well they already have their xbox music and video services running on Windows Phone... granted with a limited experience until WP8.1 is released.
Personally it is far too rich for my blood, but it does exist already. -
amk-aka-Phantom ReplyWhat better way is there to saturate the market with your operating system than to offer it for free?
Push it onto every PC via aggressive contracts with OEMs and drive competition out of business. It worked for Windows. And where's Linux, which is free? :DGoogle offer all kinds of TV shows, movies, books, magazines alongside the apps and this is where they make their money on android (apart from ads).
People actually buy this BS? :D -
JD88 Windows phone actually doesn't offer anything different or better than what is already available, and is actually way behind in a lot of areas areas. Also, all of the "new" features that will be offered in 8.1 have been copied from iOS or Android. The User interface argument is nonsense because Android can be made to behave in exactly the same way by installing a different launcher. In order to gain market share, an operating system has to actually innovate. You can't show up 5 years late to the party, offer no improvement whatsoever, and expect to get market share.Reply -
edwd2 redesign metro or just drop it. really, it's painful to stare at bricks everytime you turn on your phone.Reply -
mouse24 Reply
I honestly think people aren't using linux just because the learning curve is a bit higher and its not as widely known. Not to mention the fact that 99% of OEM pcs (not counting apple) are windows with the odd google notebook or android AIO.Lets face it, if people had to pay for windows each time they bought a PC as enthusiasts do, more people would be on linux simply because its freeWhat better way is there to saturate the market with your operating system than to offer it for free?
Push it onto every PC via aggressive contracts with OEMs and drive competition out of business. It worked for Windows. And where's Linux, which is free? :DGoogle offer all kinds of TV shows, movies, books, magazines alongside the apps and this is where they make their money on android (apart from ads).
People actually buy this BS? :D