Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is planning a visit to China in late September, according to a report by Reuters. The publication citing its own reliable sources, says that the purpose of this visit is to put an end to the ongoing antitrust investigation into Microsoft.
Earlier this year, China banned the use of Windows 8 operating system from its government offices citing security and privacy concerns. The local government later initiated an anti-trust probe under which the offices of Microsoft in China were raided, and then raided again. This week, China raised its concerns over the bundling of Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player with Windows — an accusation which was rather popular in the 90s.
China is one of the biggest economies on the planet, and due to piracy, Microsoft is already losing a lot of money there. At this point, it is unclear whether Nadella will meet China’s government, or try to resolve issues with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC), one of China’s antitrust regulators.
China is prepping for the launch of its own operating system by the end of October. It is clear that the government wants to reduce its reliance on Microsoft products. But the bigger question is will Nadella be able to put a stop to this for once and all? Or will China keep distancing itself from the rest of the world? What’s your thought on this? Let us know below.
Update: A Microsoft spokesperson has told WinBeta that Nadella’s China trip was planned before the ongoing investigation. “Satya’s trip was planned before the Chinese government investigation began. We’re committed to complying with China’s laws and addressing SAIC’s questions and concerns.”
Further reading: CEO, China, Satya Nadella
