Microsoft to Support ARM Chips in Upcoming Windows Version

Microsoft Corp., feeling pressure from popular products like Apple Inc.'s iPad, is developing a new operating system that marks a departure from the company’s traditional reliance on Intel Corp.'s chip technology. This information comes from sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans.

Next month, Microsoft plans to demonstrate a new version of its widely used Windows operating system. This version is designed for low-power devices and will support chips based on designs from ARM Holdings PLC, in addition to the x86 chip technology provided by Intel and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. Microsoft will unveil the software at the Consumer Electronics Show in early January, though it isn’t expected to be available for another two years.

Representatives from Microsoft, Intel, and ARM declined to comment on these developments.

Microsoft, headquartered in Redmond, Washington, has struggled to replicate its success in the PC operating system market within the smartphone and tablet sectors. Since Apple introduced the iPad last spring, it has dominated these markets.

ARM-based chips consume less power than most x86 chips, making them highly popular in smartphones. While Microsoft already offers Windows versions for cellphones supporting ARM technology, the mainstream Windows versions for PCs and servers have remained dependent on x86 chips.

The partnership between Microsoft and Intel is so well-established that it is often referred to as “Wintel.” However, both companies have also collaborated with other partners outside of the PC market. For instance, Intel supports Google Inc.'s Android operating system in tablet computers and has co-developed software called Meego with Nokia Corp.

According to two people close to Microsoft, the company has been working on a project to create a version of Windows for ARM-based microprocessors. One source mentioned that this initiative is part of Microsoft’s broader effort to make Windows more “modular.” This modular approach allows unnecessary components of the operating system to be removed for smaller, low-power devices like tablets, ensuring the software performs efficiently on these gadgets.

This strategy mirrors Apple’s approach with iOS, the lightweight operating system for iPads, iPhones, and other devices, derived from Apple’s Mac operating system for traditional computers.

Bloomberg first reported on Microsoft’s plans for the new operating system.

Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer is scheduled to open the CES show on the night of Jan. 5 with a keynote speech, where he is expected to highlight the company’s consumer technologies. Unlike previous years, Microsoft has also scheduled a press conference for that afternoon, ahead of Mr. Ballmer’s speech.

Microsoft was an early pioneer of the tablet concept, starting in the 1990s with pen-based Windows versions on devices using x86 chips. However, the latest Windows 7-based models have been overshadowed by Apple’s iPad success.

Although Microsoft has previously suggested that lower-power microprocessors developed by Intel will make Windows tablets more attractive, many analysts believe a more significant overhaul of Windows is necessary to make it suitable for consumer-oriented tablets.

The timeline for Microsoft’s new tablet-friendly Windows version remains uncertain. The next major release, Windows 8, isn’t expected until sometime in 2012. “They’re desperate to show they’re in the game,” said one source familiar with Microsoft.

Meta Description: Microsoft is developing a new operating system for low-power devices to compete with Apple’s iPad, demonstrating it at the CES show in January.

Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter  and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.