14 DAY TRIAL // With so many rumors swirling around and suggesting that Windows 8 is a disappointing piece of software, it was only a matter of time until a Microsoft executive came out to deny all speculation.
After Tami Reller, head of the Windows business division, revealed that Microsoft had already sold 40 million Windows 8 units, Steve Ballmer said during the company’s annual shareholders meeting that Microsoft’s new OS is actually enjoying a terrific success and, what’s more important, people actually like it.
“We know for sure that people get it, and like it,” he said in his keynote. “This is a new race, and it’s a new era for us,” the CEO added, explaining that Microsoft continues its transition towards a devices and services firm, once again hinting that more devices will be released in the near future.
“It’s a tough competitive market out there, and we certainly think that with the products that we and our partners are delivering to market … we have an opportunity.”
Microsoft’s Tami Reller has finally put an end to rumors suggesting that Windows 8 is the new “Vista,” revealing that a total of 40 million copies of the new OS had been sold in just one month.
Reller suggested that Microsoft expects to see an increase in Windows 8 sales in the next few months, without actually confirming whether the new software has indeed missed internal sales projections or not.
“The journey is just beginning, but I am pleased to announce today that we have sold 40 million Windows 8 licenses so far,” she said.
In addition, Microsoft has confirmed via an official blog post that Windows 8’s Windows Store is growing quickly, as the overall number of apps has doubled since launch.
“The launch of Windows 8 at the end of October also saw the grand opening of the Windows Store. There were more apps in the Windows Store at launch than any other app store at their launch and since then, the number of apps in the Windows Store has doubled,” the company explained.