Windows 9 Will Run On All Microsoft Devices, Says CEO

In 2015 there will be no confusion between Windows operating systems.

Microsoft Co. (NASDAQ: MSFT) plans to blend all of its operating systems into a single software, which will work on all it devices, CEO Satya Nadella told analysts during the company’s quarterly earnings call on Tuesday.

Microsoft makes computers, tablets, smartphones and video game consoles, and many of its devices run on specific operating systems. For example, there is currently Windows 8.1 Pro for the business sector tablets and computers, Windows RT 8.1 for Microsoft’s Surface tablets and Windows Phone 8.1 for smartphones. Though there are many different system versions for different devices, they are all based on the same software source, which could make it easy to unify the system. In particular differences between the Windows Phone mobile software and the standard computer software would be removed.

"We will streamline the next version of Windows from three operating systems into one single converged operating system for screens of all sizes," Nadella told analysts.

The CEO explained Microsoft previously had different software teams developing for the different windows devices, but now one team will work on the upcoming Windows 9 software, which is expected to be released in 2015.

Microsoft’s attempt to unify all of its devices under one operating system is a first for a major software developer. Notably, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:APPL) develops its OS X software for computers and its iOS software for both the iPhone and iPad, while Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) develops Chrome software for computers and Android software for smartphones and tablets.