China’s powerful state-run television broadcaster criticized Microsoft’sMSFT +2.08% Windows 8 operating system in a national news show on Wednesday, adding to the software maker’s challenges in a traditionally tough market. In its noon broadcast, China Central Television aired a segment that questioned the operating system’s security. It quoted people identified as experts who said that an operating system’s maker can obtain personal user data. The WSJ’s Paul Mozur reports:
The decision to ban procurement of Windows 8 came more than a month after Microsoft officially pulled the plug on providing support for its aging but widely installed Windows XP software. Still, it patched a security hole for Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser for XP users in the weeks after the announcement.
Companies like Microsoft could face further backlash in China. The U.S. and China have clashed in recent weeks after the U.S. indicted five officers in the People’s Liberation Army on allegations of cyberespionage. In response, China said it would more closely scrutinize imported Internet technology for threats it might pose to national security.
China has long had the stated goal of weaning itself off foreign-produced technology. Experts say friction following Mr. Snowden’s leaks has already hurt sales for companies like Cisco Systems Inc.CSCO +0.59% and International Business Machines Corp.IBM +0.80%
Still, China lacks know-how in specialized areas such as software, high-end servers and certain types of mission-critical equipment, experts say. For example, if China were to switch to a homegrown operating system, it would have a hard time replacing Microsoft’s Office suite of software, which is used by businesses and local governments across China.
While its broadcasts aren’t necessarily representative of the views of top leaders, CCTV wields considerable power in China. Questions linger over what this broadcast means for the future of Microsoft, as some companies have already started recalling its products.
From:http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/06/05/china-declares-a-new-foe-windows-8/