Microsoft committed today to a $5 billion investment in the Internet of Things (IoT) over the next four years. As part of the investment, the company says that it will focus on IoT research and development, security, development tools, services, and growing its partner ecosystem.
"With our IoT platform spanning cloud, OS, and devices, we are uniquely positioned to simplify the IoT journey so any customer—regardless of size, technical expertise, budget, industry or other factors—can create trusted, connected solutions that improve business and customer experiences, as well as the daily lives of people all over the world," Microsoft said in a blog post. "The investment we're announcing today will ensure we continue to meet all our customers' needs both now and in the future."
News of the investment comes a week after Microsoft announced a major reorganization, focusing the company more on AI and edge computing. "Computing experiences are evolving to include multiple senses and are no longer bound to one device at a time but increasingly spanning many as we move from home to work and on the go," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella explained in an email to employees announcing the reorganization. With a focus on the "intelligent edge," IoT devices stand to play a big role in Microsoft's strategy, and the investment announced today drives that home.
This comes in addition to Microsoft's efforts with Windows 10 IoT Core. According to Microsoft, customers can expect to see new products, services, programs, and more stemming from its investment.
