14 DAY TRIAL // It’s no surprise that Microsoft promotes Windows 8 as an operating system that’s built for the touch, so the company is back with some new optimistic forecasts.
Speaking at Computex in a Future of Touch Panel keynote, Microsoft's GM of OEM engineering Christian Cocks explained that Windows 8 would most likely take off in the touchscreen sector, as most of its features are specifically aimed at this type of devices.
"Today, if you look at touch penetration across major markets, it's probably somewhere in the low teens. But over time, in the next couple of months, we see [touch] penetration rates sky rocketing across the world by this holiday," Cocks said according to The Inquirer.
"We will see touch enabled Windows 8 devices expanding into emerging markets in 2014, with some larger markets such as the US in the 60-80 percent range, where touch is the expectation not the exception to a PC sale.”
Windows 8.1, the first major makeover for Windows 8, is also expected to boost interest in touchscreen devices, so sales are projected to grow even bigger in the coming months.
The upcoming Windows release will address many issues reported in Windows 8, while also trying to make the operating system more familiar with the return of the Start button.
Touch support will be dramatically improved and Microsoft will also introduce new Metro apps specifically aimed at consumers who buy touch-capable units.
"[Microsoft has] active conversations with several partners around the industry in how we can have lower costs to standardise solutions, such as lowering the tooling costs, raising yields and increasing the potential to lower the price points for touch solutions," Cocks stressed. "Microsoft is also very open to having discussions with other partners across the industry for how we can power that as well."
Windows 8.1 will officially go live on June 26 in preview form, while the stable build should see daylight by the end of the year.