Microsoft and LG extend partnership to Internet of Things

Microsoft and LG Electronics announced on Wednesday a new partnership to develop the Windows Operating system for IoT devices.

Terry Myerson, Microsoft's executive vice president of the Windows and Devices Group, was at LG's headquarters in Seoul for an LG hardware event, where LG unveiled a battalion of new devices running Windows 10. The collaboration on Internet of Things devices is the latest in a slew of recent LG-Microsoft match-ups.

"Our cooperation is built on the same strength that saw great sales of LG's Ultra PC Gram notebook running Microsoft's Windows 10 everywhere in the world on the MS Store," Myerson said.

Myerson was joined by Kwon Bong-seok, head of LG Electronics' home entertainment division, who said: "In collaboration with Microsoft, we also introduced a Windows OS-based IPTV for the first time in the market. And now we can develop new IoT devices that use the Windows operating system.

"Because many consumers want a larger display, the future of Windows is bright," Myerson said to reporters in Seoul. "And the increase in the satisfaction of consumers who prefer bigger displays will naturally help Windows stay competitive in the smartphone market as well."

The head of LG's TV division said the company is preparing other devices powered by Windows 10 by the end of the year, such as tablets and more notebooks. Kwon did not clarify whether there will be a Windows-powered phone, however.

Windows 10 is currently powering more than 22,000 devices in Korea, is seeing adoption rate five times faster than Windows 8, and has accumulated over 1 billion user hours in the country, according to Microsoft's figures.