Three versions of Windows is not in Microsoft’s future plans

Julie Larson-Green and Mike Angiulo at the Windows 8 launch event

As of now Microsoft makes three operating systems: Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1, and Windows Phone, for a range of device. Looking into the future the company is working on simplifying the number of Windows it offers.

According to a UBS Global Technology Conference the past week, Julie Larson-Green, in charge of devices at Microsoft, suggested that the software maker is planning on merging its operating systems. “We have the Windows Phone OS. We have Windows RT and we have full Windows. We’re not going to have three,” Larson-Green says. However it’s unclear if Microsoft plans to unify all of its operating systems into a single piece of software or if the software giant is just working on unifying the Windows Phone OS with Windows RT.

The news comes as no surprise, Microsoft has previously talked about merging the Windows and Windows Phone Store into a single store, and the company is already merging both of the store developers’ accounts as one of the steps on unifying the software ecosystem. “We do think there’s a world where there is a more mobile operating system that doesn’t have the risks to battery life, or the risks to security. But, it also comes at the cost of flexibility,” Julie Larson- Green says. “So we believe in that vision and that direction and we’re continuing down that path.”

SEE ALSO: Windows Store and Windows Phone Store are coming together in 2014

In addition during the UBS Global Technology Conference, Julie Larson-Green also suggested that wearable gadgets are in Microsoft’s agenda: “So sensors are going to become a big part of how you think about things,”. And this coincides with past rumors of Redmond testing a new smartwatch and eyewear prototypes similar to Google Glass.

So, what’s coming in Microsoft’s pipeline? That’s yet to be seen, but Larson-Green gave us a little something to hold on to: “We’re just getting started. So it’s going to be lots of fun. I think we have a lot of exciting things coming. Next year you’ll start to see some really exciting things.”

Source Microsoft

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.