Microsoft CA office accommodating iPads

One of Microsoft's California offices has a team dedicated to the iPad, iPhoneDevCamp founder Raven Zachary overheard today. Two Microsoft employees in Seattle were heard discussing an "iPad group" present in the state. It wasn't certain from the conversation whether it was a group studying the iPad or writing apps.

Either or both are plausible. Previous stories have surfaced of Microsoft writing iPad apps. What these may be still isn't known but could include ports of existing iPhone apps like Bing as well as possible productivity apps, although iWork and Documents To Go have already filled the niches for some.

Competitive intelligence as described by Zachary is also possible as Microsoft has already been holding focus groups and has been publicly very conscious of Apple's effect. Despite claiming no impact on notebook sales, executives have been promising numerous iPad challengers based on Windows for the end of the year and early into next. Microsoft has been keen to tout its more than eight years of collaborating on Windows tablet launches, but the iPad has already outstripped Windows tablet sales by a wide margin in roughly half a year.

Microsoft hasn't commented on the rumors but has multiple offices in California, including near Google's offices in Mountain View, Sacramento and an office in San Francisco just opposite the main Apple retail store. [via SAI]

By Electronista Staff

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computers, industry, gadgets, Microsoft, Windows 7, Apple, iPad