Windows is increasingly moving to the cloud in the corporate sector, with the operating system, applications, data, and settings no longer being stored locally on a PC. Microsoft is planning to extend this cloud migration to end customers and private users with Windows 11, according to an internal presentation from June 2022. The presentation was revealed as part of the current proceedings by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against Microsoft due to the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The FTC is examining Microsoft’s gaming strategy and its potential impact on other areas of the company’s business. While the EU has approved the acquisition, the FTC has concerns and has applied for emergency injunctions against both companies.
The presentation shows that Microsoft sees the cloud as a “long-term important opportunity” for Windows 11. The company aims to use the power of the cloud and client to enable improved, AI-supported services everywhere. Windows 365, Microsoft’s cloud-based operating system for corporate customers, will serve as the basis for this transition. The recent introduction of the “Windows 365 Boot” function allows PCs to start Microsoft’s cloud desktop directly after logging in, eliminating the need to manually call the service from the local system.
In addition to cloud migration, the presentation also reveals Microsoft’s plans to develop its own processors to ensure the competitiveness of the entire Windows ecosystem and Surface products. This move is likely in response to the significant growth of Chromebooks during the pandemic, as Google’s ChromeOS relies heavily on the cloud to keep hardware requirements low. By developing its own chips, Microsoft aims to strengthen its position in the market and better compete with Chromebooks.
Overall, Microsoft’s internal presentation highlights its strategy to fully embrace the cloud with Windows 11, offering a seamless experience across different devices and leveraging AI-powered services. It also underscores the company’s efforts to remain competitive in the face of growing competition from Chromebooks. The outcome of the FTC’s proceedings will determine the future trajectory of Microsoft’s plans for cloud-based Windows.
