Microsoft sets October release for Windows 8

By Jahanzaib Bin Liaquat

Correspondent, SAM Daily Times

SAN FRANCISCO —Microsoft’s next-generation operating system will be available in October as the software giant strives to stay relevant in a blossoming mobile era centered on tablets and smartphones.
Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer said, this will be the biggest product and services launch year in our company’s history.

The new Windows 8 operating system will be available in August for computer, tablet or smartphone makers to build into hardware, according to Microsoft.Microsoft reported that it has sold more than 630 million licenses of Windows 7, and that the software powers the majority of business desktop computers. Windows 7 went public in October 2009. Communications manager Brandon LeBlanc said Windows 8 will be available in 109 languages across 231 markets worldwide.

Ballmer said it is simply the biggest deal for this company in at least 17 years, it’s the glue; it’s the foundation of everything Microsoft is built on.

Windows 8 allows users readily to store and share personal data among various devices under the “SkyDrive” cloud computing service.

The software giant has been trying to expand its presence in the booming market for smartphones and tablets, which is currently dominated by Apple and Google.

Microsoft said it would release a new version of its popular Office software suite called Office 365 Open, which allows its partners to resell; it would acquire Perceptive Pixel, which makes large-scale, multi-touch displays.

The company makes what it calls the world’s largest projected capacitive