BackMicrosoft’s Windows 10 reaches 270 million users
Microsoft still dominates the market for personal computer software, but its share of smartphoneswhere many people now do the bulk of their computingis tiny
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San Francisco: The latest version of Microsoft Corp’s Windows operating system has 270 million active users eight months after launch, the world’s largest software company said on Wednesday.
The number, announced by executive Terry Myerson at Microsoft’s annual gathering for developers in San Francisco, represents a solid start for Windows 10 after the tepid reaction to its predecessor, Windows 8.
Myerson said before launch he was aiming for 1 billion devices running Windows 10 within a few years.
He did not give a breakdown on the type of devices Windows 10 was being used on. Microsoft still dominates the market for personal computer software, but its share of smartphones—where many people now do the bulk of their computing—is tiny.
Technology research firm IDC is forecasting that smartphones running Windows will account for only 1.6% of the global market this year, compared to 83% running Google’s Android system and 15% running Apple Inc.’s iOS.
Windows 10, released last July, was offered as a free upgrade to owners of the most recent Windows systems.
The majority of new adopters are likely consumers upgrading for free, said Forrester analyst J.P. Gownder. Reuters
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