Microsoft Confirms Windows Price Cuts To OEMs For Making Small Sized Tablets
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WSJ reported few months back that Microsoft is planning to cut the Windows price it charges the OEMs to increase the sales. At Computex event held in Taiwan, Microsoft’s OEM division head Nick Parker has confirmed about the price cuts, but it is only applicable for tablets/PCs that are less than 10.1 inches in size. According to WSJ, Microsoft is cutting by two-thirds the cost to license Windows and Office software, or roughly $100 before marketing rebates Microsoft offers to PC makers.
This may sound that there will be a significant reduction in price for Windows devices on retail. But it may not happen, here’s why. Microsoft is planning to ship Microsoft Office with all small sized tablets for free, so you can understand the logic behind price cuts.
“I think this is revenue neutral, that the end price to the OEMs is neutral, but they’re throwing in Office,” said Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst with Moor Insights & Strategy.
Smaller displays mean less expensive displays, Moorhead explained. “Going from 10.6-in. or 11.1-in. to 8-in. or 7-in., you’re going to bring down prices dramatically. So any price reductions will be more on the basis of the new hardware, and not attributed to what Microsoft is doing.”
Source: WSJ, CW
