Microsoft commits $5bn to IoT over the next four years
News

Microsoft commits $5bn to IoT over the next four years

Microsoft says that it is investing approximately $5 billion in the Internet of Things (IoT) over the next four years.

In a blog post earlier this week Microsoft said it is investing this because it wants to give all its customers “the ability to transform its businesses and the world at large, with connected solutions.”

The company says it has been invested in IoT ‘long before the term was coined’ and that through its pledge will be able to “dedicate even more resources to research and innovation in IoT and what is ultimately evolving to be the new intelligent edge.”

Through its IoT platform that spans cloud, OS and devices, Microsoft says it is uniquely positioned to simplify the IoT journey enabling any customer to “create trusted, connected solutions that improve business and customer experiences” and the investment announcement will ensure that Microsoft continues to meet its customers’ needs both now and in the future.

The increase in investment will also support continued innovation in the IoT space. Microsfot will continue to research and develop key areas such as securing IoT, creating development tools and intelligent services for IoT and the edge, and investments to its partner ecosystem.

With customers like Steelcase, Kohler, Chevron, United Technologies and Johnson Controls already innovating using Microsoft’s IoT platform, the company says we are witnessing a new transformation. Their use of the platform shows us how both customers and partners overcome their unique challenges of building an IoT solution that harnesses massive amounts of data.

However the platform is used, Microsoft says that “IoT is a collaborative, multi-disciplinary effort that spans cloud development, machine learning, AI, security and privacy.”

The announcement comes a few weeks after the company confirmed that it is reorganising its Windows division following the departure of Terry Myerson, who has headed up Microsoft's Windows business since 2013. 

Under the new structure Myerson's Windows and Devices Group (WDG), parts will move under executive vice president Rajesh Jha, who is in charge of the new experiences & devices organisation; other parts will go to executive vice president Scott Guthrie, who is running the newly formed Cloud + AI Platform. 

Commenting on the change Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said it is part of the company’s new focus on “intelligent cloud and the intelligent edge". 

Gift this article