Microsoft will give away licenses to Windows Phone and Windows to device makers building smartphones or tablets with screens smaller than 9-in. measured diagonally.



From Computerworld:

"In my view, this is one of the boldest moves Microsoft has made in recent memory" said Al Gillen, an analyst with IDC, in an interview after today's three-hour keynote at Microsoft's Build developers conference. "It's pretty powerful."

"This is a very big deal," agreed Carolina Milanesi, strategic insight director of Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. "It's a change at how they look at their cash cow, looking at the bigger picture now and what they need to do to win the mobile story, if you like."

Others echoed the "wow" factor of Microsoft's unprecedented decision, characterizing it as a major milestone in the company's 38-year history.

  Microsoft makes Windows free for some devices