Microsoft Will Lift Windows RT Tablet Licensing Margins In January

Is Windows RT unnecessary? Some analysts think so. Credit:Microsoft | iTechPost

More information has been revealed about the upcoming Windows RT. As per latest reports, Microsoft is planning to lift Windows RT licensing restrictions in January. What this will do is open up the new operating system to additional OEMs for ARM-based tablets.

According to a China Times report, the software giant has been working with a variety of chipmakers and OEMs in what has previously been said to be a technique to limit variations based on specific partnerships. It is now being said that Nvidia has chosen Asus and Lenovo for Windows RT, Texas Instruments has partnered with Toshiba, while Qualcomm with HP and Samsung.

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The report has claimed that restrictions will be lifted in January, and will make way for new impetus around Windows RT tablets. Now Samsung and Dell are both rumored to be preparing Windows RT-based tablets, but only Asus and Microsoft itself have committed to devices.

HP, on the other hand, has opted out of building an ARM-based Windows 8 tablet and HTC was reportedly denied the ability to create one (well, initially). Together with the licensing costs for Windows RT, which are reportedly as high as $85 per device, it's hardly a surprise that Windows RT tablets will be limited at launch.

However, if the latest reports are precise, we could have a glimmer of hope to see a good number of Windows RT tablets at the Consumer Electronics Show next year.

More reports will soon follow.