14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft today announced its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2013 and, aside from a $16 billion (€12.2 billion) profit, the Redmondians have also revealed some very interesting stats about the Windows 8 OS.
While the Windows & Windows Live division went down 33 percent as compared to the first quarter of the previous year, Windows 8 performed even better than Windows 7 did in the same stage before its launch.
The entire division recorded sales of $3.24 billion (€2.4 billion), but Windows 8 pre-sales revenues are 40 percent higher than Windows 7’s in the comparative launch quarter, the company said.
These optimistic figures make Microsoft and CEO Steve Ballmer hope that the company’s new operating system won’t fail to impress on the short-term, as some analysts are expecting.
What’s more, Steve Ballmer is so excited with the launch of Windows 8 that he even claims it represents the beginning of a new era for the Redmond-based devices and services company.
“The launch of Windows 8 is the beginning of a new era at Microsoft,” said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer at Microsoft.
“Investments we’ve made over a number of years are now coming together to create a future of exceptional devices and services, with tremendous opportunity for our customers, developers, and partners,” he added.
Kevin Turner, Microsoft chief operating officer, shares the same view and expects to see Windows 8 performing very well, despite the declining PC market.
“We’ve already certified more than 1,000 systems for Windows 8 from our hardware partners, ranging from the smallest tablets and convertibles to touch-enabled ultrabooks and all-in-ones to the most powerful desktop computers,” he said.