In the recent FTC v Microsoft hearing, a June 2022 internal “state of the business” presentation was revealed, which includes insights into the company’s long-term strategy. And notable is Moving “Windows 11 increasingly to the cloud” is identified as a long-term opportunity in Microsoft’s “Modern Life” consumer space, including using “the power of the cloud and client to enable improved AI-powered services and full roaming of people’s digital experience.”
Moving Windows fully to the cloud for consumers is also presented alongside Microsoft’s need to invest in custom silicon partnerships. Microsoft has been doing some of this for its ARM-powered Surface Pro X devices.
In another slide in the presentation, Microsoft mentions the need to “shore up Windows commercial value and respond to Chromebook threat” for its “Modern Work” priorities in its 2022 financial year. Long-term opportunities on the commercial side include growing the usage of cloud PCs with Windows 365.
Why do we care?
This is such a critical strategy detail to consider. Microsoft is planning for Windows in the cloud. Not today, not tomorrow, and not necessarily soon… but directionally. Total roaming of people’s digital experience. That’s the phrase to think about. Think of the Star Trek ship’s computer. No matter where you are, the computer knows you, follows your needs, adapts to the location, and is always there.
Now consider all the implications of that. And know that will be the space we, as IT providers, will live.