Report: Microsoft making Windows to run on ARM chips and tablets

A report from Bloomberg says Microsoft will announce a version of Windows that will run on ARM chips, which could spawn Windows-based tablets.

The Tuesday report, citing unnamed sources, said Microsoft will show the new version of Windows at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Chief Executive Steve Ballmer is scheduled to give a keynote speech on Jan. 5.

The New York Times earlier reported that Microsoft would show tablets running Windows at CES.

Bloomberg said the new software will also work on chips made by Intel and AMD.

In July, Microsoft said it was licensing designs from ARM, based in Cambridge, U.K., but the companies declined to give details on what the technology would be used for.

Microsoft already has tablet devices that run Windows, but they are not competitive with the iPad on size, battery life or price. Ballmer has not given a date on when new Windows-based tablets will appear, but has said they are coming soon.

Apple has sold more than 7 million iPads this year, and the perception that tablets are starting to eat into PC use has hurt Microsoft's stock value.

Here is our earlier Seattle Times story on the chip technology agreement between Microsoft and ARM.

Update 3:13 p.m.:

Microsoft declined to comment on the reports that the company will announce a new version of Windows to run on tablets.

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