Sunday, January 8, 2012

Microsoft: Unifying Windows 8, Windows Phone, Xbox 360

In his last keynote address at CES, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said Windows 8 is on schedule for delivery later this year. The company's new "Metro" user interface will be the unifying element across Windows 8, Windows Phone, Xbox 360 and tablets. Some highlights of the event:

  • Xbox 360 is first in console sales with more than 66 million worldwide.


  • Xbox LIVE is the biggest social entertainment network in the living room with nearly 40 million Xbox LIVE members.


  • Microsoft has sold over 18 million Kinect controller units so far. Kinect is coming to Windows 8. Microsoft has a host of enterprise customers developing corporate Kinect applications, including United Health Group, Toyota, Telefonica, Mattel, American Express United Health Group, Toyota, Telefonica, Mattel, and American Express. A commercial SDK for Kinect will be released next month.


  • Microsoft's Skype division carried over 300 billion minutes of voice and video traffic last year.


  • Windows Phone has more than 50,000 published apps.


  • Ford has shipped more than 4 million vehicles equipped with Ford Sync powered by Microsoft.

http://www.microsoft.com