How can the
Microsoft Surface RT better compete with low priced Android tablets? Consider that the
Google Nexus 10, which has the highest resolution 10 inch screen in the industry, can be purchased starting with a price about $100 less than the Surface RT. Brian White of Topeka Capital Market has told his clients that Microsoft is considering a cut in licensing fees in Windows RT which would make Windows RT tablets cheaper. White believes that with the licensing fee reduction, Windows RT tablets could see a price cut in the range of
35% to 40%. That should make those tablets much more competitive.
Last week, Microsoft made some changes to its Windows 8 hardware certification guidelines that could allow manufacturers to build tablets using Windows RT but with significantly
lowered resolution requirements. This would allow manufacturers to build a 7 inch Windows RT tablet. But that happens to be exactly where most of the low priced Android tablets live. And not only do slates like the
Google Nexus 7 and the
Amazon Kindle Fire live in that zip code, the
Apple iPad mini and it's 7.9 inch screen would be considered competition in that area as well. Perehaps the crew in Redmond should just see how well the licensing fee cuts work on the 10 inch tablets before targeting those 7 inch slates
source:
BGR
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: