With Microsoft’s announcement of the launch of the Windows 8-based “Surface” tablet, they have seen a gap in the market. Tablet computers have hit the consumer market by surprise, with Apple and Samsung being the main players, but within the business market there has been little penetration. Blackberry and Cisco have failed miserably with their Playbook and CIUS, while Apple and Samsung still lack the features demanded by IT security and infrastructure departments.
In the business world, a new laptop, for example, must work with existing security and management tools and must be able to run existing business applications. These are often internally developed applications designed to run on Windows. This will be key to the success of Surface within the company.
Microsoft’s difference should allow companies to continue using their same set of management tools and internal apps, but only expand the profiles to include “Surface” users. When “Surface” cannot be treated differently from a laptop, then the case for implementation becomes much easier.
The Surface will no doubt come with MS Lync built in, furthering Microsoft’s penetration of unified communications and video conferencing. Adding connectivity to the video conferencing gateway will allow the Surface to participate in video conference calls with any room-based system, iPad, iPhone, desktop or Mac, both inside and outside the organization.
By far the majority of laptop users in the company also have a desktop PC. It will be interesting to see the impact the Surface will have on traditional standalone video conferencing devices and desktop video conferencing. It makes so much more sense to have video conferencing running on the Surface and remove the extra desktop device entirely and that goes on, why would I want video conferencing installed on my PC to take up valuable screen real estate?
It’s clear from the exterior design; to the magnetic cover of the Surface that Microsoft intends to face Apple but also providing some extras such as USB 3 in the Pro version.
Questions remain:
How will Microsoft price the Surface? – Will they present the price of the iPad, the price of the laptop or some kind of middle ground?
How will the company receive Windows 8? – Most companies have moved from XP to Windows 7. Will they be willing to have a mixed OS environment?
Apple is clearly the leader in mobile apps. and hardware desirability. Will Microsoft be able to make a respectable tooth on this?
