14 DAY TRIAL // As you might be aware, Microsoft is getting increasingly generous with partners willing to jump onboard the Windows boat. The tech giant announced it was cutting down on license prices for those device makers, developing models under 9 inches.
A recent report by the infamous DigiTimes claims Microsoft is eyeing MediaTek and actively pursuing the low-cost chip manufacturer, trying to persuade it to push Windows-based tablets onto the Chinese white-box market.
The sources believe there’s a high chance that Microsoft and MediaTek might partner up in the near future, but neither of the two companies has confirmed any of the information.
Because so far, developing Windows-based tablets did not come cheap, most brand vendors preferred developing Android-based slates instead, but with Microsoft’s new license policy, brand vendors might have a change of heart. Some of them might do so out of curiosity, for testing the market or only as a means to expand its portfolio.
If Microsoft and MediaTek will indeed partner up remains to be seen, but if that happens Qualcomm will end up suffering the repercussions. The chip maker is the second or third choice for Chines white box makers, but that might as well change in the near future.
Microsoft and Qualcomm have been working together on Nokia phones, but as far as tablets Intel seemed to be the choice du-jour. But MediaTek is gaining ground quickly. And Microsoft has noticed that.