On Wednesday, despite announcing a 12% increase in revenue, Microsoft seemed to blamed chip manufacturer Intel for a drop in Windows sales.
Revenues from computer manufacturers bundling Windows machines fell 5%, with non-Pro OEM sales falling 11% and Pro OEM sales falling 2%. Microsoft noted the ongoing Intel processor shortage, particular for workstations and PCs, had hurt it this quarter, and could further hamper Windows in the next few months.
Redmond said that a lack of supply of processors had affected its Windows 10 sales as people were buying fewer Windows 10 machines. This is a similar situation many are facing due to waiting on supplies of Intel chips.
"In Windows, the overall PC market was smaller than we expected, primarily due to the timing of chip supplies to our OEM partners, which constrained an otherwise healthy PC ecosystem," said Microsoft CFO Amy Hood in the company's earnings call.
It's been well-publicised that Intel has struggled to meet the demand for its processor chips, resulting in slow PC sales for a number of manufacturers. The drop of in sales could be down to consumers waiting for 10-nanometer chips that would warrant a laptop or pre-built desktop upgrade. Intel has been producing 14-nanometer chips for some time and is struggling to set up the infrastructure to build its next generation of chips.
Currently, the company is trying to perfect its manufacturing process called ultraviolet lithography, which is a method of etching smaller circuit lines on chips. This new method is said to make more powerful chips but it requires Intel to expand its manufacturing capabilities. The company has said it plans to begin work on 7nm chips as soon as its sorted the delays for its 10nm chips, set to launch later this year.
However, even with the slow down in the PC market, Microsoft's Azure Cloud and Office services look in top health. The company pulled in $32.47 billion and recorded a net income of $8.4 billion - compared to last year's $6.3 billion net loss. The big plus point proved to be Azure, with 76% growth in revenue.
