Microsoft Said to Be Cutting Windows RT Prices

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Unnamed sources are telling Bloomberg that Microsoft has lowered the price it charges manufacturers for Windows RT, its operating system for tablets. The company hopes to encourage more OEMs to use Windows RT for their devices.

Bloomberg’s Dina Bass, Ian King and Tim Culpan reported, “Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) is cutting the price of its Windows software for small tablets, seeking to shore up foundering efforts to combat Apple Inc. (AAPL) in the mobile-computing market, people with knowledge of the matter said. Microsoft is using the changes to try and get more manufacturers to adopt Windows RT, a version of its flagship software for tablets, said the people, who asked not to be identified because pricing is confidential. The price cuts affect Windows RT for small-sized tablets.”

Salvador Rodriguez with the Los Angeles Times noted, “Microsoft released Windows RT in October with the launch of its Surface tablet. However, Microsoft has had a hard time gaining ground on Apple, and for the most part, many of its manufacturing partners have steered clear of launching products using Windows RT, citing a lack of demand. For now, only Dell and HTC have launched or plan to launch devices running Windows RT.”

Matthew Rocco with FOX News added, “Nick Parker, who oversees the software giant’s relationships with computer makers, is expected to tell partners that Microsoft is committed to Windows RT in a speech at the Computex industry conference this week.”

Doug Drinkwater with TabTimes observed, “This is not the first time there has been talk about Microsoft reducing Windows 8 licensee fees to OEMs, in a bid to make for cheaper tablets. Topeka Capital analyst Brian White claimed in April that Microsoft was to reduce Windows 8 tablet licenses to OEMs by up to 40%, while Creative Strategies’ Ben Bajarin later told TabTimes that licensees for Windows Blue (also known as Windows 8.1, the next iteration of Windows 8) would drop by roughly $20.”