14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is lowering Windows 8.1 licensing fees, according to people familiar with the matter, in an attempt to bring cheaper devices to the market and encourage partners to focus on entry-level PCs that could help boost the market share of its modern platform.
According to a report by Digitimes, OEMs aren’t entirely satisfied with Microsoft’s new strategy and are even requesting Redmond to offer them free licenses of Windows Phone for smartphones and Windows 8.1 for tablets.
The reason is basically the same, as manufacturers believe that such a decision could reduce the price of their devices even more and thus lend them a hand in the race against Android products.
At this point, Microsoft is selling Windows 8.1 licenses for only $15 /€11 (down from $50 / €33) to companies that agree to retail PCs for less than $250 / €182, including both desktop computers and tablets.