Microsoft's Windows on ARM promises new outlet for mobile apps

Microsoft's new processor architecture, Windows on ARM, will open up a potentially huge market for device vendors and give traditional Windows developers the chance to work in a mobile environment. But before that can happen, Microsoft needs to create a new and robust ecosystem to support its WOA launch later this year. The developer community will have an important role in WOA's success because they will create the products that Microsoft needs to capture the most crucial part of the ecosystem: customers. Vendors that are working with Microsoft are encouraging developers to participate. "If you're a developer, you might imagine your success could be greater than it is in the PC market," said Kathy Brown, general manager of Windows on OMAP at Texas Instruments, which is among the vendors supplying processors for Windows 8 tablets. "We really believe in the potential of this market." Special Report