Microsoft Windows OS may go completely open source in future hints Redmond CTO

Technology giant Microsoft, which is all set to release its most expected Windows 10 unified operating platform during Summer 2015, has now hinted at future Windows iterations going open source.

Microsoft's open source intentions were revealed by the Redmond-based company's chief technology officer (for Microsoft Azure) and top engineer Mark Russinovich during a recent panel discussion. His statements made during the discussion are quoted in a report published in Wired.

The engineer clearly hints at Microsoft's intentions to make Windows open source which would make the OS a free-of-cost package, rather than a premium one, similar to multiple variants of the popular Linux open source desktop operating platform.

Russinovich also indicates that Microsoft is now following a different approach to grab the chunk of its loyal user base lost to rival desktop OSes, predominantly Apple's Mac.

It is worth remembering that Windows 8 was termed a failure by loyalists due to which the company saw users (even enterprise users) migrating to rival software platforms.

"It's a new Microsoft", stated Russinovich, during the panel discussion (quoted by the Wired report). "It's definitely possible."

Currently, Microsoft's Azure cloud service lets users run Linux within the platform. Russinovich opines that a minimum of 20% of the world's computers operate with Linux running over the Azure cloud computing platform.

Besides, Linux is emerging as the first-choice for business users who would not mind running Windows as the secondary platform.

"That's the reality we live in today", added Microsoft's Russinovich.

However, Microsoft loyalists should not expect Windows to be go open source in the immediate future. In that case, Windows should be free for all, rather than only for current customers.

Microsoft, at the moment, is focussing on releasing Windows 10 that promises to bring back the iconic Start button, along with incorporating Cortana within. A brand new web browser, other than Internet Explorer, tentatively codenamed Spartan, will be provided within Windows 10.