Sony is leaving open the possibility of products using Microsoft's mobile operating system. February 6, 2014 10:48 PM PST Xperia Z: A future Sony phone running Windows Phone 8? (Credit: Sony) With Sony's high-profile exit from the PC business, it is essentially rejecting any devices that run on the Windows operating system -- the traditional Windows desktop OS, that is. First the bad news. Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai did make it clear in Tokyo on Thursday that Microsoft Windows for PCs is not part of its future. Related stories Sony kills its laptop and e-book business What gaming drought? 7 great games you should be playing right now "Windows products will go to the new company," he said, in a press conference that was widely reported in the Japanese media, referring to Japan Industrial Partners, the investment fund that will take over Sony's PC business. That statement was part and parcel of Sony's new mobile mission. "In the mobile arena, we decided that it is essential now to concentrate on smartphones and tablets," Hirai said. But there was a qualifier. "Microsoft has various OSes, including mobile. So, as Sony, we will consider new product development going forward." CEOs typically don't drop hints about future products unless they have a clear plan in place. So, it does appear that Sony is considering products, such as smartphone and tablets, that would run on an operating system such as Windows Phone 8. Sony's Xperia Tablet Z runs Android. Sony is not excluding the possibility of a small tablet, for instance, running on a Microsoft mobile OS. (Credit: Sony)
Sony is leaving open the possibility of products using Microsoft's mobile operating system.
Xperia Z: A future Sony phone running Windows Phone 8?
(Credit: Sony)
With Sony's high-profile exit from the PC business, it is essentially rejecting any devices that run on the Windows operating system -- the traditional Windows desktop OS, that is.
First the bad news. Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai did make it clear in Tokyo on Thursday that Microsoft Windows for PCs is not part of its future.
Related stories
- Sony kills its laptop and e-book business
- What gaming drought? 7 great games you should be playing right now
"Windows products will go to the new company," he said, in a press conference that was widely reported in the Japanese media, referring to Japan Industrial Partners, the investment fund that will take over Sony's PC business.
That statement was part and parcel of Sony's new mobile mission. "In the mobile arena, we decided that it is essential now to concentrate on smartphones and tablets," Hirai said.
But there was a qualifier. "Microsoft has various OSes, including mobile. So, as Sony, we will consider new product development going forward."
CEOs typically don't drop hints about future products unless they have a clear plan in place. So, it does appear that Sony is considering products, such as smartphone and tablets, that would run on an operating system such as Windows Phone 8.
Sony's Xperia Tablet Z runs Android. Sony is not excluding the possibility of a small tablet, for instance, running on a Microsoft mobile OS.
(Credit: Sony)
