Microsoft was preparing today to shake up the multi-billion-pound tablet industry by launching its own hand-held computer.
The tech giant usually produces software then licenses other firms to make the hardware. But in a radical change, Microsoft is expected to launch its own tablet with a new version of Windows as it attempts to take on Apple and its iPad’s dominance. The firm, headed up by Steve Ballmer, has already imitated Apple’s secretive marketing, sending out invitations to a “mystery” event.
Usually, Microsoft bosses can only dream of their new products inspiring the kind of queues tech rival Apple’s do. The iPad has almost a two-third share of the fast-growing tablet market. BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion and Hewlett-Packard tried to take on the iPad and both times it was an expensive mistake.
