Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Holt on Friday drew attention by claiming to know Microsoft was accelerating its attempts to compete in tablets. Following a briefing with Microsoft executives, he now believed Windows 8 on ARM chips could reach the market as soon as the end of 2011 or the start of 2012. The acceleration could put it out a year earlier than most expect and would render Microsoft “closer to competitive” with Apple and Google, Holt explained.
Business Insider claims sources have told them Microsoft has set around 1,000 engineers to work on ARM-based Windows performance,
It’s unknown whether Microsoft would have given out a direct timetable for releases or if this was an analyst making his own road map for MS. Microsoft almost always posts private and later public betas of an OS followed by at least one near-final release candidate. The process usually takes several months and would need Microsoft to start seeding developers with releases very soon.
Microsoft hasn’t commented on Holt’s assertions.
