Microsoft unveils its second generation Surface - Le Figaro

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Second attempt for Microsoft. The global leader in software does not admit defeat. On 22 October, four days after the launch of the second version of its Windows 8 operating system, Microsoft will offer two new families of tablets, Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2. Prices range from 439 euros to 1779 euros, depending on storage capacity embedded in each machine. The new tablets have the same external dimensions as the previous ones, with a large screen (10.6 inches or 27 inches diagonal). But the battery life has been improved by 60%. The tablets may be used as well for more than ten hours without recharging. Microsoft will sell online, through its website, and will also feature in France from Boulanger, Carrefour, Darty, Fnac, then later in the Leclerc hypermarkets. “ By extending our distribution network and adapting our offering to the market price, we have given a major boost to space,” said Marc Jalabert, director of the consumer branch of Microsoft France.

In addition, to purchasers of these new tablets, Microsoft will offer a year of free calls using Skype software. The Redmond giant also offer a range of accessories such as a docking station in order to make these new more attractive to the general public and businesses.

bet is not won. But the software giant renewed the offensive. The announcement comes less than a year, barely, after Microsoft failed miserably with its first tablet surface, the price has been reduced from 15% to 30% this summer, depending on the model.

previous version, launched in October 2012 in the United States, and earlier this year in France, was not as successful as hoped. Microsoft has, with this activity, generated revenues of $ 853 million, lower than the 900 million provisioned by the software giant to poor sales and lower prices for tablets on its last fiscal year ended in late June The number of tablets already sold area has not been made public. In total, the various research firms estimate that less than 2 million units total sales of the first generation of space in the world, with a slightly stronger for the “Pro” application, which has a keyboard and wants to be both a tablet and a laptop.

Microsoft is still far from being imposed on this market. However, in the second quarter of 2013, the global tablet market grew by 43% to 34.2 million units, dominated by Apple (42.7% of total), Samsung (21.6%) and Amazon (4 , 5%), according to research firm Canalys.