Just few days into the year, the tech industry is already buzzing with speculations of Microsoft (MSFT, Financial) hitting it big; welcoming Satya Nadella as the new CEO. Now with the holiday season over and 2015 totally upon us, Microsoft has some huge business strategies lined up, hoping to clinch the top slot in the market. It has been one exceptional company who got up again after being side lined by two technology giants- Apple (AAPL, Financial) and Google (GOOG, Financial). The company took the much required decision to start up again and write a splendid comeback story with acquiring the Nokia’s (NOK, Financial) handset division.
Microsoft and Consumer World
Testing the technical waters is the company’s forthcoming Windows 10. Fresh, fast and secure, the Windows 10 is expected to house a device-specific interface, scaling down from desktops to phones.
It’s certainly clear that Microsoft users are looking forward to applaud the firm’s Windows 10. However, weighing against Microsoft’s upcoming OS is Google’s Android platform and Apple’s pervasive iOS. Currently running on the 8.1 version, Microsoft holds a unified interface, which is easy to operate even by a first time user.
Just when we thought Google will top the slot for rolling out 20 new apps, Microsoft took out around 24 new applications in the Q4 of 2014, surpassing the former. Among new apps such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel, the software firm also launched improvements to its already existing apps such as OneNote, OneDrive, Lync and Bing.
Google’s Android and iOS is focusing on taking out a large number of MSN apps such as MSN Weather, Sports, News, Food and Drink, Health and Fitness. As a part of the Microsoft’s brand name, all these apps are renamed to MSN. However, each app is rolled out by Microsoft for Kindle Fire and Fire Phone, available on Amazon's (AMZN, Financial) App Store. These apps are also available on Windows and Windows Phone. Microsoft, however, has emerged to be the provider of apps for iOS, Android and Windows with the integration of Apple’s HealthKit with the Health & Fitness app. These MSN apps are available at Amazon App Store, Google Play and Apple’s App Store. This surely gives the firm a chance to re-clinch to the top spot.
Of lately, the firm had readers cast their vote for the best Microsoft-made app of 2014 and Movie Creator Beta emerged the winner. The app lets users combine pics, videos, music and cinema graphs into movies, which can be shared easily with family and friends.
Although Apple’s iOS 8 has left no efforts unturned to woo a lot of customers, it is indeed either an Android or a Windows Phone which has entered everyone’s pocket unless someone is ready to blow off more than half of their earnings. With the ideal Windows 10 OS, Microsoft plans to combine Windows Phone and Windows RT into a single
Microsoft in Corporate Solution
Talking about base-level cloud computing services, Microsoft has developed a flexible machine learning service; Azure, which lets users’ process information in large volumes that can be done without a data service background. Giving importance to its cloud services, Brad Anderson, corporate VP, Microsoft’s Cloud & Enterprise Division said, “Mobility and cloud are the future of business, and the future is now.” The firm plans to put the cloud first by launching private cloud connections. The service is safe, simple, secure and reliable.
Microsoft’s cloud offerings can also sync calendar and contacts from Apple’s iCloud and other competitor cloud accounts. Following suit, Google has Container Engine Service, which makes it easy for developers to secure applications in the cloud. Apple’s iCloud service is also easy, secure and automatic.
Market Vibes
Several technology experts believe that Microsoft is going to be a major player in 2015 because of its association with windows 8, Xbox and office365. Microsoft is growing well and is expected to do well in the mobile market because of its low cost phones with premium features. Microsoft with its strategies and step by step expansions it might overcome apple in coming 3 to 4 years. Although Apple products would continue to be the favorite of the Richie rich but it can in no way come over android which is bagging almost everything- PC’s, Tablets and phones. Probably Microsoft would play the role of a better competitor against the android.
