windows 8 - will it ride the multiple device wave successfully? - iyogi
DESCRIPTION
iYogi, one of the leaders in the remote tech support industry, today released its edition of iYogi Insights focused on Windows 8 and Microsoft's strategy targeted at the increasing consumer trend towards using multiple devices. The significance of the Windows 8 launch this year is amplified by the proliferation of tablet devices that are currently dominated by the iOS and Android platforms. Based on the results of the survey, iYogi Insights predicts that Windows 8 will drive new adoption and shipment of tablets from Microsoft's existing PC user base. Entrenched partnerships with original equipment manufacturers will help Microsoft to galvanize the entire ecosystem into launching new products, some already announced on Windows 8. Some of the new product announcements at the recently held CES 2012 include the Nokia Lumia 900 smartphone, Samsung and AT&T's Windows 8 ready tablets, and Acer's Timeline Ultrabook. These are likely to result in further revision of the projections on shipments of tablets, smartphones, ultrabooks, etc. The buzz is that Windows 8 will help tablets provide a real alternative to Apple's iPad, by getting the community of app developers motivated and delivering, before the launch. Microsoft has already released its developer preview and beta is expected shortly. Our research shows that the awareness of the upcoming launch of Windows 8, is very high (95 %) and increasing consumer preference for a single user interface can prove a winner. Windows 8 presents another option for Tablets with new features and a dazzling user interface that pieces together your digital life in a singular interface, called Metro. For this edition of Insights, iYogi surveyed more than 1400 customers on the Windows platform.TRANSCRIPT
INTRODUCTION
iYogi Insights is a research initiative launched by iYogi to help understand the issues that
people face with technology and how they adapt tech solutions to enhance their lives. A
subscriber base that is among the largest in the tech support industry gives iYogi a unique
vantage point to observe how technology is impacting people's lives and habits. Frequent
interaction with this wide database of subscribers gives us a privileged peek into how people
are forging a partnership with technology, sorting out the occasional issue, and on the
whole, positively embracing technology to empower themselves.
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consumer researchWINDOWS 8LAUNCH WILL ACCELERATE SHIPMENTSOF TABLETS
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INTRODUCTION
WILL IT RIDE THE MULTIPLE DEVICE WAVE
8 WIN
DOWS iYogi, one of the leaders in the remote tech support industry, today released its first edition of
iYogi Insights focused on Windows 8 and Microsoft's strategy targeted at the increasing consumer
trend towards using multiple devices. The significance of the Windows 8 launch this year is
amplified by the proliferation of tablet devices that are currently dominated by the iOS and Android
platforms. Based on the results of the survey, iYogi Insights predicts that Windows 8 will drive new
adoption and shipment of tablets from Microsoft's existing PC user base.
Entrenched partnerships with original equipment manufacturers will help Microsoft to galvanize the
entire ecosystem into launching new products, some already announced on Windows 8. Some of
the new product announcements at the recently held CES 2012 include the Nokia Lumia 900
smartphone, Samsung and AT&T's Windows 8 ready tablets, and Acer's Timeline Ultrabook. These
are likely to result in further revision of the projections on shipments of tablets, smartphones,
ultrabooks, etc. The buzz is that Windows 8 will help tablets provide a real alternative to Apple's
iPad, by getting the community of app developers motivated and delivering, before the launch.
Microsoft has already released its developer preview and beta is expected shortly.
Our research shows that the awareness of the upcoming launch of Windows 8, is very high (95 %)
and increasing consumer preference for a single user interface can prove a winner. Windows 8
presents another option for Tablets with new features and a dazzling user interface that pieces
together your digital life in a singular interface, called Metro. For this edition of Insights, iYogi
surveyed more than 1400 customers on the Windows platform.
I N S I G H T S
consumer researchWINDOWS 8LAUNCH WILL ACCELERATE SHIPMENTSOF TABLETS
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69% OF PC USERS ENDORSE MICROSOFT'SSTRATEGY FOR A SINGLE INTERFACE ACROSS MULTIPLE DEVICES 85% tablet users would like their tablet and PC to have the same look and feel
MULTIPLE DEVICE USAGE TREND
69% OF PC USERS ENDORSE MICROSOFT'S
85% tablet users would like their tablet and PC to have the same look and feel
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consumer researchWINDOWS 8LAUNCH WILL ACCELERATE SHIPMENTSOF TABLETS
A significant majority of PC users, 69% would like to have a single interface across
multiple devices and not surprisingly, an overwhelming 85% of current tablet users
would like their PC and tablet to offer synergy in functionality, look and feel. Given
that there is a rising trend towards using multiple devices, this appears to be key to
Microsoft's winning strategy for Windows 8, aiming to provide users with an
integrated experience across mobiles, tablets and PCs. Already, 2011 saw more
mobiles than PCs being shipped. As the tablet market grows, Windows 8 has the
potential to become a preferred platform as a unified operating system across all
the three devices PCs, tablets, and smartphones. Moreover, the tiled Metro
interface has been specially designed for touch-screen devices and will play a major
role in Windows 8 adoption across tablets and phones.
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Windows 8 has succeeded in conjuring up a
sizeable hype factor with near 95% of
respondents aware that Windows 8 is soon due
to be launched. In comparison, an earlier survey
conducted by iYogi before the launch of the
much-touted Windows 7 reveals that only about
40% respondents knew about the Windows 7
release. This is in sharp contrast to the
awareness built around Windows 8. The
'Building Windows 8' community initiative
launched earlier this year has generated its fair
share of hype. The community serves to engage
both users and developers in an open dialogue
to further the development of the Windows 8
platform by incorporating feedback.
I know about Windows 8
Windows 8 is gonna be awesome
Windows 8! Yeah!
Looking forward to Windows 8
It’s going be only about Windows 8
It’s all about Windows 8.
Can’t wait for Windows 8.
Windows 8 is coming
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AWARENESS ABOUT
WINDOWS 8
95% of the respondents were aware of Microsoft's
new development
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consumer researchWINDOWS 8LAUNCH WILL ACCELERATE SHIPMENTSOF TABLETS
AWARENESS ABOUT WINDOWS 895% of respondents were aware of Microsoft's new development
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EXPANDING THE MARKET FROM PCS TO TABLETS AND PHONES57% of tablet users would like to upgrade to Windows 8
EXPANDINGTHE MARKET FROM
PCS TO TABLETS ANDPHONES
57% of tablet users would
like to upgrade to Windows 8
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The survey reveals that 57% of tablet users
like the idea of Windows 8 touch-screen
interface. Given an opportunity, they would
upgrade their tablets to Windows 8.
Interestingly, 19% of users who do not use
tablets said that they would like to upgrade.
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According to the results of the survey, 85% of tablet tablet sales, the app market will continue to grow. Windows 8. This could give Microsoft a critical edge over
owners already use apps and 57% of them would like to Microsoft is ready to take advantage of this trend Android Market both, in terms of the quality and
use the live Tiles interface for apps in Windows 8. Of the through its Windows Store and provide customers a reliability of the apps developed for Windows 8. Also this
remaining respondents who are yet to convert to tablet platform with a variety of apps to choose from. The is likely to pose a serious challenge to Apple's current
usage, 20% felt that the Tiles would make their PC developer preview released by the company has tools for dominance of the app market.
experience better. It is predicted that with increasing building apps that support the Metro interface of
TILES AND APPS FOR A BETTER USER EXPERIENCE57% of tablet users would like to use the Tiles interface for apps
TILES AND APPS FOR A BETTER USER EXPERIENCE
57% of tablet users would like to use the Tiles interface for apps
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TABLET FRIENDLY SINGLE WINDOW METRO INTERFACE 53% of tablet users would want to work on the Metro interface
53% OF TABLET USERS
would want to work on the
METRO INTERFACE
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consumer researchWINDOWS 8LAUNCH WILL ACCELERATE SHIPMENTSOF TABLETS
The survey reveals that 53% of tablet users
would like to use the Metro interface of
Windows 8. Of the remaining respondents,
18% felt that they wanted the single window
interface being offered by Windows 8 Metro.
A single window interface implies that a
program would open in full screen mode when
a tile is double clicked. This would mean a
cleaner interface that would be more tablet
friendly. To open two or more programs side
by side, a split screen has to be created.
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USERS IN A DILEMMA ABOUT USING APPSMany users are still new to and therefore ambivalent about apps
USERS IN A DILEMMA USERS IN A DILEMMA ABOUT
USING APPSUSING APPSMany users are still new to
and therefore ambivalent about apps.
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APPS
APPSAPPS
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According to the findings of the survey, a
majority of the users are unsure about using
apps. However, the appetite for apps
continues to grow. Christmas week alone, of
2011, saw a staggering 509 million app
downloads in the US, out of a 1.2 billion apps
downloaded worldwide. Microsoft plans to
launch Windows Store to offer apps to
customers to counter the current leadership
of Apple and Android. App usage would
generally be far higher (near 90%) amongst
tablet users than on phones, another aspect
that Microsoft would be looking to build on.
But till the time the store is launched, users
are still unsure whether they will be using any
apps on Windows 8 computers, tablets, and
phones. However, the 'Building Windows 8'
community is an attempt on the part of
company to dispel such doubts and to
introduce to users and developers alike, to
the Windows App Store.
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Out of the 1400 respondents only about one-sixth are currently tablet users.
T A R G E T I N G
TABLETS TABLETS as a key
THRUST AREA
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Currently 15% of the respondents are tablet users. International Data Corporation (IDC), a leading analyst of the technology scene, has also raised its forecast for the number of
tablets that will be shipped out this year from 53.5 Million to 62.5 Million, a rise of 17%, which means that the market for Windows 8 tablet is growing already. Current findings
indicate that adoption of tablets across the US currently stands at about 13% or approximately 40 million users, and is slated to increase to nearly 30% by 2015.
RIDING THE TABLET WAVEOut of the 1400 respondents only 15% are currently tablet users.
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The burgeoning market for smartphones, tablets and other newgen devices has the consumer struggling with
different operating systems, interfaces and platforms. With Windows 8, Microsoft seems to have come up with a
winning strategy to integrate user experience across multiple devices. Also, realizing that apps are the way of the
future, it has engaged with the app developer community and created the Windows Store to be able to entice
users with a wide range of apps in place before launch. Will this astute marketing gambit work? This iYogi
Insights Consumer Research on Windows 8 Microsoft's new interface strategy reveals what the current PC and
tablet user thinks. Has Microsoft been able to reach out to him or her?
METHODOLOGY I N S I G H T S
consumer researchWINDOWS 8LAUNCH WILL ACCELERATE SHIPMENTSOF TABLETS
METHODOLOGY
This survey covered iYogi subscribers through an online form following their support sessions. A total of 1400 respondents on the Windows
platform filled the online survey form consisting of 9 questions requesting details on PC and tablet usage, app usage, user interface
experience and preferences among others, to determine how they see this new development. The data collected was collated, analyzed and
compared to identify, assess and quantify trends and patterns.
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