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Microsoft: Windows 10 will power 1 billion devices within two years

Windows 10 is set to launch later this year, with Microsoft revealing its hopes of getting the OS on a staggering 1 billion devices by 2017.

According to the software giant, Windows 10 will become the most widely adopted platform in history, easily outstripping the number of devices running rival platforms such as iOS, Android or Mac OS.

Making the announcement during the company’s annual developer conference, Build 2015, Terry Myerson, Microsoft’s Executive VP of Operating Systems, revealed the lofty targets.

“We know we need to make Windows 10 broadly adopted quickly,” Myerson told the room of developers.

“Today we are sharing our goal. Our goal is that within 2 to 3 years of Windows 10’s release, there will be 1 billion devices running Windows 10.

“No other platform version, in any ecosystem is available on 1 billion device. Current estimations for Android KitKat is 500,000 devices. Numbers for iOS 8 is lower than that.”

Detailing how the company plans to reach these unparalleled heights, he added: “We started by making it a free upgrade for the first year.

“Now, we’re making it easier for business to adopt Windows 10 worldwide.

“With Windows 10, there will be 1 billion devices ready to run your applications.”

Related: Windows 10 release date

Windows 10 is the company’s latest cross-platform OS. Stepping away from its PC roots, the platform will transition seamlessly between a fleet of devices, including mobile, tablet, and IOT products.

“Our goal is to make Windows 10 the most attractive development platform ever,” Myerson said.

“With Windows 10 we’re targeting the broadest device range ever, from small screens such as phones, to large screens such as TVs and devices with no screens like the Internet of Things and HoloLens.”

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