NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Microsoft's unveiling of its latest Windows operating system, dubbed Windows 10, will have to convince consumers and companies to upgrade, after the mixed success of Windows 8. As the company continues to move towards CEOaSatya Nadella's vision of being a cloud and services company, the success of the latest version will be crucial for the company's future. Analyst Dan Ives of FBR Capital Markets believes the upcoming the OS revision "sets the stage as the most comprehensive Windows platform to date." In a research note, Ives wrote, "A more unified Microsoft platform will be music to the ears of CIOs worldwide and could also open up massive opportunities on the consumer front (cloud, mobile, apps) over the coming years as the common user-interface across devices adds familiarity/ease-of-use." Microsoft has pushed free versions of Windows, allowing more than 50 hardware partners to offer Windows-based phones and tablets, as it seeks to stave off competition from Google , which uses Android in a similar fashion. Must Read: Will the Next Windows Be Good Enough to Save Microsoft? The beta version of the upcoming OS was formally introduced at a big event in San Francisco on Tuesday. Windows 10 is designed to provide an integrated software platform ("one tailored experience") for all Microsoft's computing formats from servers and PCs to tablets, smartphones and even Xbox gaming consoles. While Windows VP Joe Belfiore warned potential testers that the new software is still a work in progress, there's a lot to like about the new operating system. Belfiore stressed that the company has been working hard to combine the familiarity of the still popular Windows 7 with the functionality of Windows 8. This means Windows 10 is both logical and user friendly for desktop/laptop users and, at the same time, will continue to appeal to touchscreen tablet fans. The major selling point of Windows 10 will be the return of the popular Start button and menu which disappeared in Windows 8. Otherwise, Windows also brings the beloved Windows home screen back to the forefront, somewhat downplay the separate, boxy Metro interface and generally improves the integration of Microsoft-branded cloud services into the mix. Must Read: 10 Stocks George Soros Is Buying in 2014 These facts and more which may prove to benefit both hardware and software refreshes, potentially boosting Microsoft's Windows-related revenue, which has struggled in recent years. In Microsoft's fiscal 2014 fourth quarter, it generated $4.69 billion in revenue from its Windows Devices and Consumer Licensing group, up from $4.38 billion in the previous quarter. When Microsoft released Windows 8 in the fiscal second quarter of 2012, revenue from its Windows Devices and Consumer Licensing group was $4.74 billion. Microsoft's first quarter, 2015 earnings call is set for Oct. 23. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect the company to announce earnings of 49 cents a share on $22.01 billion in revenue. Shares of Microsoft were lower in early Wednesday trading, falling 0.54% to $46.11. Windows 8 was released two years ago and was greeted with mixed reviews. Adoption of the software has been lower than Microsoft had hoped for. The last time the company bragged about sales figures was back in March when it was announced that Windows 8 had surpassed the 200 million units mark. Windows 7 hit the 240 million mark within the first year following its release. The rise in tablet and smartphone also contributed to lagging Windows 8 adoption. The official Windows 10 release is expected by the middle of 2015. Ives thinks the focus of Tuesday's introduction was clear, with the event "clearly geared toward Microsoft's bread and butter enterprise customer." Ive noted that the event was another "step in the right direction in the Nadella era," with Microsoft being well positioned for the future. -- Written by Gary Krakow with additional reporting by Chris Ciaccia in New York To submit a news tip, send an email to tips@thestreet.com.
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