Microsoft, the world’s leading software manufacturer, has claimed its upcoming Windows RT to be the “most compatible” ARM operating system that will be loaded into laptops and tablets.

Windows 8 will be the first desktop operating system launched by Microsoft that supports the ARM architecture, albeit with the Windows RT branding. The company touts it as the most compatible ARM operating system in laptops and tablets.

Erwin Visser, senior director of Microsoft’s Windows Commercial Business Group, said, “Windows RT devices in tablet and laptops will run all the apps from the Windows store. It will also include [Microsoft] Office components like Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Onenote and support a large amount of PC peripherals through in-box class drivers. Relative to other ARM offerings in the market, Windows RT will be the most compatible ARM offering on the market.”

“Taking into acount ARM is a completely new processor architecture and what we’re focused on is a couple of things to help enterprise customers embrace Windows RT. [...] All the Windows 8 apps that run on x86 will also run on Windows RT, ” Visser added.

He also cited that in-box drivers for PC hardware that are generally absent in both Android and IOS devices will be onboard.

Visser also said users can side-load applications on Windows RT devices aside from the Windows Store as a source of applications. Regarding issues on security Visser said, “In the case of side-loading apps, the app will be certified through the enterprise IT organization.”

Microsoft has claimed that Windows RT will be the ‘most compatible’ OS for ARM-based devices. (Image: Microsoft)

The reason behind Microsoft allowing side-loading applications in Windows RT lies in the seeming thought that it is what big business desires.

“If you think about apps that are used internally, so not apps that are built by enterprises for their consumers or customers but apps that support internal processes, customers do not want to put those apps – because they always have some competitive advantage – in the Windows App Store, which is a public place. So they want to keep those apps within their own infrastructure and [with] side-loading they can still load them on Windows x86 and Windows RT systems.” Visser noted.

Unchained and not relying on a central app store run by Apple or Google in its operating systems could be just the flexibility that firms want in Microsoft.

Despite Apple’s uncooperative nature and with Android and iOS devices already in the market, Microsoft must hope that the Windows RT devices created by its partners will satisfy the users.

About Francis Rey Balolong

A coffee junkie who spends most of his time writing about the latest news on social media and mobile technology. I would definitely consider myself a nerd (in the coolest most hipster way possible). That being said, I love technology, music, writing, and all things mobile. Follow me: Google+ Twitter

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