Analyze three ideas for Microsoft to ensure Win9 success

Computer Store News: Microsoft will announce Windows 9 later this month, just two years before the release of Windows 8. Because Windows 8 sales are lower than expected, there is a lot of doubt about the prospects of Windows 9. However, Microsoft's efforts in three areas ensure that Windows 9 can succeed in the consumer and enterprise markets.

1. Persist in the subscription mode, this mode is very effective

Despite Bill & Bull; Bill Gates and Steve & Bull; Steve Ballmer) likes to develop new versions of the software and sell it all at once, but the new CEO is more optimistic about the subscription business.

Users can purchase Office 365 and Microsoft's cloud computing services on a monthly basis. The annual revenue of commercial cloud computing services, including Office 365 and Azure, was $4.4 billion (approximately RMB 27 billion). Currently, Microsoft has 5.6 million Office 365 users. The iOS version of Office has reached 35 million downloads, and since the number of downloads exceeds the number of subscribers, this means that the number of subscribers will continue to grow.

Given the success of the subscription business, Microsoft should use the subscription model to sell the new operating system. This approach will especially benefit users who have purchased Windows 8 over the past two years, as well as users who have accelerated the pace of operating system releases.

Microsoft will become a company like Apple or Google, constantly upgrading its operating system, and the subscription model seems to be the best option for Microsoft. Microsoft Windows business revenue will become a long-term flow, and will not fluctuate due to product cycle. Microsoft can also seamlessly update its operating system without worrying about the opposition of consumers, businesses and software developers.

So, when Microsoft released Windows 9 on September 30, its adoption of a successful Office 365 business model should be closely watched.

2, no longer mobile-centric

Windows 8 running on a PC is almost identical to Windows 8 running on smartphones and tablets. Windows 8 is an attempt by Microsoft to cover the entire device ecosystem. The problem with this strategy is that there are not enough Windows mobile device users.

Market research firm IDC estimates that as of the end of the second quarter, Windows phones accounted for only 2.5% of the global smartphone market. The combined market share of Apple iOS and Google Android is 96.4%. According to market research firm Net Applications, although Windows 7, XP, 8 and 8.1 have a market share of nearly 90% in the PC market, Microsoft has been marginalized in the mobile market.

Microsoft's mobile and PC business is completely different. For Microsoft, the latter is much more valuable. Therefore, Microsoft needs to release an operating system that is not too focused on mobile devices. The problem is that Microsoft has said it wants a seamless operating system experience on all devices.

It’s just that Microsoft’s arguments lead investors to think that, like Windows 8, Windows 9 will have exactly the same look on desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones. IDC pointed out that smartphones are not Microsoft's core market, so Microsoft's focus must be on improving the PC user experience. Microsoft has two ways to achieve a seamless experience on all devices without sacrificing PC business.

Apple's iOS and OS X operating systems are perfect examples of separating mobile devices and PCs while enabling seamless operation. Many of Apple's software —— such as iCloud, iTunes, Calender and Pages, etc. The key to working together between mobile and desktop devices is that Apple realizes that users may use PCs and mobile devices for different reasons.

Apple has developed two different versions of the operating system, and their applications work seamlessly together. Apple users can use iMessages to send and receive messages, save and access documents, download apps, view images, and more on a Mac or iPhone. Even though Google separates PCs from mobile devices, the Android operating system is geared toward mobile devices, and Chrome OS is geared toward notebooks. Of course, Chrome OS still supports Android.

Microsoft should learn from Apple and Google's strategy. By developing two different operating systems, Microsoft can still make critical applications run seamlessly between PCs and mobile devices, but the appearance of the two operating systems will be targeted at PC and mobile device users with different needs. Even if Microsoft can create a perfect operating system for two types of users, there is no reason to have a one-size-fits-all mentality.

3, know what users need

Windows 8 contains the biggest changes in the Microsoft operating system over the past 10 years, and even removed the start button.

The problem is that users are not flocking. According to market research company Net Applications, as of July, Windows 8 and 8.1 share only 12.48% of the global PC market, more than half of PCs still run Windows 7, and Windows XP market share of more than 10 years is still close to 25%.

From this we can conclude that users like software more than 10 years ago than Microsoft's latest version of the operating system. Users may not like to use the app on a desktop PC, or they may not like the start page of the main touch feature. Windows 7 and XP are similar in appearance and are the most widely used operating systems. Therefore, Microsoft's new operating system should be more similar to Windows 7 and XP than Windows 8 or 8.1.

No one knows what Windows 9 "long" what it is, and what major changes it has compared to Windows 8. However, due to the disappointing performance of Windows 8, Microsoft must make a core change to Windows 9.