Satya Nadella is finishing out his first six months as CEO of Microsoft, a time that’s saw the company already make some big steps in mobile, like the unexpected release of the Surface Pro 3 or the completion of the Nokia Devices & Services acquisition. As the company heads into fiscal year 2015, Nadella is addressing his troops via staff-wide email, and spells-out a modified core vision for the company, impacting its focus on hardware.
At least, Microsoft used to describe itself as a “devices and services” company, but Nadella’s not satisfied with how that reflects its current strategy. Instead, he paints Microsoft as a “productivity and platform company,” emphasizing the ways it gives users the tools they need to get the most out of their personal and professional lives.
But does taking devices out of the spotlight spell trouble for Microsoft’s hardware efforts? Not at all, and Nadella is clear that despite this new mission statement, first-party hardware is still going to be a big deal. He talks about stimulating interest in Windows devices by introducing new product categories, like Microsoft did with its Surface tablets, as well as how the Nokia acquisition will let Microsoft “make the market for Windows Phone.”
As for what’s next, Nadella says to look for “many more new categories” of mobile hardware in the years to come, including “a variety of devices of all screen sizes.”