In April 2015, before they were released Windows 10, Microsoft set a very lofty goal: “In two to three years” Windows 10 will exist in 1 billion Appliances. Today marks the one-year anniversary of the operating system's release, and Microsoft has admitted defeat for the first time, as reported by ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley.
"Windows 10 made the hottest start in history with over 350 million monthly active devices, with a record of customer satisfaction and loyalty," said a Microsoft spokesman.
"We are pleased with our progress to date, but due to the focus on our phone hardware, it will take longer to reach the goal of 1 billion monthly active devices with Windows 10."
In other words, Windows 10 Mobile did not deliver as expected, since there is virtually no Windows Mobile, at least not as Microsoft dreams of, or to say it better, not as its customers dream.
Microsoft was clearly counting on sales of devices that run on mobile functional company's system and so perhaps the goal of one billion devices seemed achievable, although personally I still find it too high. But Windows phone sales are falling further and further each quarter, so much so that Microsoft will have to revise its Windows 10 target timeline.
Windows 10 had been installed on over 75 million computers in the first four weeks, then 110 million devices arrived at 10 weeks, at 200 million in less than six months, at 270 million after eight months at 300 million after nine months, and then 350 million after 11 months.
The numbers are definitely impressive as they surpassed any other operating system of the company, even the Windows 7. So "Microsoft failed to achieve its goal."
In the meantime, Microsoft's free upgrade offer ends this month, and as we have before, the company should seriously consider expanding it.
