據(jù)外媒報道，微軟與英特爾合作的下一個目標將是物聯(lián)網(wǎng)，內(nèi)容將涉及英特爾奔騰級物聯(lián)網(wǎng)處理器——夸克（Quark）。

　　是否著重于Windows系統(tǒng)設(shè)備或Azure云服務(wù)，合作細節(jié)尚不清晰，該計劃將在舊金山的微軟公司公布。

　　對英特爾來說，與微軟進行物聯(lián)網(wǎng)合作“將是未來支持各類小型設(shè)備操作系統(tǒng)的承諾，不僅僅是風(fēng)河、安卓而已。”

　　微軟同樣將挖掘更多物聯(lián)網(wǎng)微處理器合作伙伴，其Windows RT及Compact 7目前均已支持ARM，為更適用于物聯(lián)網(wǎng)應(yīng)用的集成低功耗處理器敞開了大門。

　　競爭者也將目光投向這一領(lǐng)域。蘋果CEO蒂姆·庫克談到改變生活意味著其瞄準消費物聯(lián)網(wǎng)云服務(wù)領(lǐng)域。IBM已經(jīng)為企業(yè)提供物聯(lián)網(wǎng)云服務(wù)，思科預(yù)計也將很快推出類似服務(wù)。

　　以下為原文：

　　The emerging markets in the Internet ofThings are said to be the target of Microsoft's and its veteran partner Intel'snext collaboration, which will involve Intel's Pentium-class IoT processor,Quark.

　　The specifics of the collaboration arestill unclear—whether the work focuses on embedded versions of Windows, WindowsPhone, or another code base, and whether it includes hosted IoT services usingMicrosoft's Windows Azure cloud service.

　　Neither Microsoft nor Intel responded torequests for interviews on the topic today. The plan is expected to beannounced at Microsoft Build in San Francisco.

　　The Wintel duopoly has ruled the PC marketfrom its early high-growth days until the present. Now that PC growth hasleveled off, it makes sense for the two to collaborate on emerging markets inthe IoT.

　　"Much of their deployed base in theembedded market remains interwoven," Christopher Rommel, an analystcovering the IoT at Venture Development Corp., told us. "It only makessense that they would look to cater to the desires and needs of their existingcustomer base with a joint roadmap and solution for small-footprintdevices." He has not been briefed on any specific product plans from thetwo companies.

　　For Intel, an IoT partnership withMicrosoft "would be a further demonstration of their commitment to supporta range of operating systems for small-footprint devices – beyond Wind Riverand Android," he said. "For Microsoft, it would serve as a anopportunity to push down to device classes historically served by moretraditional real-time operating systems that CE/Compact couldn't even addresspreviously."

　　Microsoft is likely to tap othermicroprocessor partners for the IoT. Its Windows RT and Compact 7 already supportARM, opening the door to a smorgasbord of integrated, low-power processors wellsuited for IoT apps.

　　The company has something of a checkeredhistory in embedded operating systems. It has rolled out several versions ofplatforms based on subsets of its Windows code, but it has often taken heat fornot providing adequate support, especially for real-time features.Nevertheless, it has a significant installed base in embedded systems, a widecommunity of Windows developers, and an opportunity to tie together its devicesoftware with Azure cloud services.

　　Competitors are eyeing similaropportunities. Apple CEO Tim Cook has talked in vague terms about changing the"user experience" of living in ways that suggest it could be workingon a consumer IoT cloud service. IBM already has an IoT cloud service forbusinesses, and Cisco Systems is expected to launch one soon.

　　"I don't know how people will react toa version of Windows for IoT," Chad Jones, vice president of productstrategy for Xively, which provides cloud IoT services based on the platform ofits parent company, LogMeIn, told us. "In the end, more companies jumpinginto this market will increase the pie."