14 DAY TRIAL // While Windows is the number one operating system in China, Microsoft is about to meet its fiercest rival, as the local government has signed a deal with Ubuntu maker Canonical for the creation of a national operating system.
Windows is currently installed on approximately 92 percent of the computers connected to the Internet in China, while Linux barely accounts for 1.2 percent.
Such a decision would obviously be an important hit for Microsoft, especially because the company is struggling to deal with local piracy and force Chinese users to pay for its operating system. Ubuntu is a completely free platform and, given the fact that it’ll be backed by the government, plenty of companies and businesses would have to deploy it regardless of whether they agree with it or not.
Called Ubuntu Kylin, the new operating system will be released next month, so Microsoft should put in place a new strategy for China as soon as possible.
Of course, the local government is also looking to have more control over users’ computers, so Windows could in the end serve as a restriction-free platform.