Microsoft in 2013, the end of the era Ballmer

There has been a quiet year for Microsoft. Many news stories have stirred to both positive and negative U.S. Company. But above all, this year will be remembered as the last as head of the company Steve Ballmer, after thirteen years directing the reins of the company’s software. We do not know the name of the substitute will have the important task of continuing the transition from PC platform that Microsoft has begun with the launch of Windows 8. 2013 has also been market by launching the first major update of Windows 8, the arrival of the Xbox next generation or buying Nokia and the launch of Windows Phone.

Steve Ballmer over the years became a key part of Microsoft. Although he never achieved the same weight as other media figures in technology as its predecessor Bill Gates or the late Steve Jobs, it is clear that Microsoft would not be the same today without him. Roommate Bill Gates from the inception of the company, at the beginning of the century emerged as the conductor of the U.S. Company.

His legacy has been plagued by great successes and mistakes that have been more costly to the firm, such as the failed launch of Windows Vista. The doubts that have generated Windows 8, next to the discontent of the investors ended up precipitate a decision that this did not make him less unexpected. In August the world communicated his decision to step back and leave the post of CEO in twelve months for another take his place. A substitute is not yet known and will help to choose the executive itself.

Windows 8 is still the big rotating shaft on most of the concerns of the firm. To maximize its performance in the market, Microsoft has released a major update called Windows 8.1 that improve some aspects of its interface and performance, such as the return of a start button, new customization options or a new redesign for your shop apps. Despite these improvements, Windows 8 still does not convince the market and according to data collected by StatCounter its market share has stagnated at around 7.5% share.

These figures are not very encouraging and that bind to the crisis that continues through the PC market. Anyway, since the company expects the adoption process continue in the coming years (although a slow form) and that this system will become over time a rival to Windows 7 or Windows XP (which is still used in a large number of computers).

On the horizon is also the threat equipment with the system Chrome OS. This system operation is based on the use of networking tools has greatly improved in recent months (and has expanded its functionality when not connected) and begins to gain market share in both emerging markets and the United States. Of course, its presence in Europe at the moment is merely symbolic, but could increase in the coming years.

One of the biggest news of the year at Microsoft has been the announcement of the purchase of Nokia last September, for a price of around 5,400 million euros. The purchase to which not so long ago it was the biggest signing of the mobile world had been now being rumored during the last few months. Surely, this decision may have been about the possibility that Nokia will decant with developing mobile platform Android, which would have damaged much the presence of Windows Phone on the market.

And, removing any release of Samsung or HTC, the overwhelming majority of sales of computers with this operating system are coming through the Lumia family. According to the latest data from K Antar Worldpanel on the third quarter, this operating system has managed to win with a 10% of the market in the so-called EU5 European countries (Germany, UK, France, Italy and Spain). This market share doubles I got in the same period of 2012, and is a very positive for the future of this platform data.

The new generation of consoles is finally here. With permission from the Wii U that was launched last year, this year marked the launch of the new proposals for Microsoft and Sony. The Xbox One just takes a few weeks on the market but it appears to be to become a bestseller. The first data that have given the company talk about two million units sold during its first two weeks on the market, some data that exceeds the pace of sales of its predecessor. Other encouraging data have come from other sources such as Amazon, which at times has sold 4,000 units of Xbox One and PlayStation 4 per minute

This new generation of American console significantly improves graphics and much work has been its integration with Skype and other products from Microsoft, in an inclusive movement that has marked the last signature moves. Yes, it is still early to have definitive conclusions about the performance of this console, and have to wait to see how it develops in 2014.