In a move that mirrors similar moves by Apple with IBM and Cisco, Microsoft has recruited Dell, Accenture and HP to drive sales of its Surface devices in the enterprise
Microsoft has recruited Dell along with Accenture and HP to drive sales of its Surface devices in the enterprise space.
In a strategy that sees Microsoft echoing what Apple is doing with IBM and Cisco, Microsoft has devised the Surface Enterprise initiative.
Microsoft’s Surface platform, and most definitely its Surface Pro family, does not get recognition for advancing the versatility of computing as we know it.
Under the new initiative, Dell and HP will sell Surface Pro devices along with enterprise-class support and services, while Accenture and Avanade will continue to build apps and solutions for Windows 10.
Microsoft’s Windows 10 now on 75m devices
Windows 10, which Microsoft unveiled at the end of June, already comes with enterprise-grade security, as well as new management and deployment tools.
So far 75m machines are running Windows 10, and Microsoft is targeting this to reach 1bn devices within three years.
As part of the initiative, Dell will add Surface Pro and Surface devices and accessories to its device line-up, starting in the US and Canada in early October, and ultimately will grow this to 28 markets by 2016.
A recent Spiceworks report stated 60pc of IT departments surveyed have tested Windows 10 and 40pc plan to start rolling out Windows 10 this year. It also noted that 74pc of businesses plan to adopt Windows 10 by 2017, which would make Windows 10 the quickest deployed version of Windows in history.
Updated 3.04pm, 10 September 2015: This article was updated to reflect the fact that Accenture are not reselling Surface but, along with Avanade, will continue to build apps and solutions for Windows 10.
