What’s Microsoft Really Doing With ARM-Based Tablets? [Unconfirmed]

Bloomberg reported today that Microsoft is busy porting Windows to the ARM-based chips that dominate the smartphone and tablet market. If true, that may likely mean no possibility of future WP7 tablets. Which sounds unlikely! Here’s the next bet .

Mary Jo Foley breaks down Microsoft’s likeliest ARM scenario, and it doesn’t involve full Windows. Instead, Microsoft’s clearest path to ARM is Windows CE .

Microsoft’s about to release Windows Embedded Compact 7 to manufacturing, and as a platform it makes rather more sense inside the tablet environment than full Windows. It also gives Microsoft a raffle to port up a version of Windows Phone (which seems ripe for the tablet environment), with Silverlight providing cross-platform opportunities.

Either way, the sole thing that’s crystal clear is that Microsoft is going to be pushing tablets hard at CES. Just like, well, last year. But maybe Windows CE will give them a wiser chance than Windows 7 has up to now. [ ZDNet ]

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This post is tagged: compact 7, cross-platform, mary jo foley, SmartPhone, tablet market, Windows phone