Windows 8: Where Mobile OS and Desktop OS collide?

Todd Gorsuch
Tuesday, 31 January 2012 08:38

Business IT - Technology

The era has come where individuals never have to go without computer presence in their lives - thanks to the rise and evolution of smartphones. The gap between desktop and mobile abilities is beginning to narrow due to the influx of updated mobile devices and tablets '” all of which are equipped to handle even the most intricate applications. This convergence has inevitably triggered a demand for a one-size-fits-all solution.

 

In Australia, where IT, utility and wireless positions are often limited by isolated working environments, this development will be crucial. Enterprises may benefit tenfold if their employees have the ability to access essential servers, programs or applications regardless of where they are working.

Australian entrepreneurs and business owners who already maintain remote devices will have much to be thankful for when Windows 8, the first crossover OS built to run on mobile and desktop platforms, debuts later this year. This all-in-one solution, if implemented correctly, should free up both time and money for businesses.

From the start, application developers will save time by eliminating the need to write mobile and desktop versions of each program. Organisations that outsource these projects will wind up paying less, and those with in-house developers will increase efficiency.

Beyond the technical side, users should reap the direct benefits of a comprehensive system. Without having to shift between separate interfaces and devices, there would be no training period necessary to get a handle on new software. For businesses, this means only having to purchase one bundle of software for all employees, regardless of location.

The highly anticipated combination of desktop and mobile powers may prove to be an effective answer for Australian companies seeking to integrate their in-office and remote employees. One integrated operating system could elevate organization-wide efficiency by streamlining the modes of communications between employee work sites, ensuring that nothing is lost when corresponding between varying devices.

Between this new operating system potential and the daily developments made to telecommunication applications, the level of fluidity in business operations will be that much greater. Programs will be smart enough to help individual employees navigate their entire day '” from automatically comparing your schedule with a client's and detecting that you are both free to meet for coffee, to suggesting a meeting spot that's close by for both of you. These capabilities will eventually expand beyond personal planners and e-mails to sales and marketing tools, data reports and business process automation.

In addition to all of the potential pluses Windows 8 holds, a new virtual Windows software store (close to Apple's Mac App Store) will open its doors in conjunction with the operating system. Critics are abuzz with how this new store will affect the app industry thanks to screenshots that leaked last month. Significant advantages range from free trials of applications to more lenient guidelines for app developers and a profit-sharing program to recognise popular apps. The Windows store will implement a 70% revenue sharing base for all apps (the same as Apple's); when the app hits $25,000 in revenue, the base goes up to 80%.

Large enterprises who take part in (or are looking to take part in) software licensing through Microsoft Enterprise Agreements should also keep a close eye on Windows' latest developments. Microsoft announced that the mobile operating system will be created using its 'Metro' interface design language, giving businesses more power over the system's functionality. Through the Enterprise Agreements, IT managers can set how much access employees will have to apps in the Windows store, or bypass the virtual store altogether and opt to install Metro-based applications directly on PCs. These new control options will allow IT administrators to tailor the software to their organisations' needs and enhance application management.

With the number of weeks until Windows 8 arrives dwindling down, enterprise executives must ask themselves this: Can the new operating system boost connectivity and present more options to remote employees? In reality, it is too soon to know. Before making any company-wide switches, businesses in enterprise software agreements should discuss available options with their consultants. As one of Australia's few Microsoft large account resellers, expect us to keep an eye on Windows 8 developments from now until the debut and relay pertinent news. We can't help but be excited over the possibility of bridging the mobile-desktop divide indefinitely.

Todd Gorsuch is a director with IT services provider Datacom