Windows 8 ban golden chance for local firms

More business opportunities will be available to home-made operating systems after China banned Microsoft Corp's Windows 8 in new government purchases, analysts said on Wednesday. But a big question mark still remains because local providers may not be ready to take over the multi-billion-yuan market from overseas giants.

"The ban is a golden opportunity for Chinese software companies to gain ground but it also challenges their product and technology levels," said Zhang Yumu, vice-president of online security company Beijing Rising Information Technology Co Ltd.

Zhang's remarks came after the Central Government Procurement Center excluded Microsoft's flagship OS out of government purchase list. It means all Central government organs will not install Windows 8 on their computers.

Windows 8 had less than three percent of the market share in China as of April, according to Internet data company cnzz.com.

The website's statistics included OS installation on smartphones and tablets so the adoption rate of Windows 8 on personal computers is set to be significantly lower. PCs are the major government procurement item in China.

It is unclear how the ban will impact Microsoft's China business but the sudden announcement was an obvious gesture that foreign-made software is not welcomed in government offices.

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