Microsoft may tie chipmakers to device makers for next Windows tablets version

Microsoft Corp has asked chipmakers that want to use the next version of Windows for tablets, to work with only one computer manufacturer, news service Bloomber.

Citing three unnamed persons who it said were aware of the matter, Bloomberg reported that Microsoft will offer incentives to chipmakers and computer makers that go along with the terms to compensate for the restrictions, which tie a single chipmaker to one tablet design.

The bid to limit variations would help Microsoft expedite the delivery of new Windows tablets by keeping tighter control over partners and accelerating development and testing. Though the programme is not mandatory, the restrictions may discourage computer makers from building a variety of Windows-based models to vie with Apple Inc (AAPL)'s iPad, the people said.

''Microsoft is still in the development process on the next version of Windows, continuing the engineering work with our silicon partners as part of the technology preview we talked about in January,'' Microsoft told the news service in in an e-mailed statement. ''We continue to talk regularly with hardware partners around the world as part of our development process.''

Under the plan it is pushing, a given chipmaker would have to ally itself with a single PC manufacturer to qualify for certain incentives which may include features that ensure the device runs better or lower prices for the software, one of the people said.

Meanwhile, Microsoft will preview the next generation of the company's Windows operating system aimed at tablets to clients and media today in Taipei, according to Steven Guggenheimer, a corporate vice president at Microsoft, who made an announcement to the effect at the Computex trade show yesterday.