[simonh]

It's that or gradually become more and more irrelevant to a very large segment of the computing market. I think there more to this than just 'accepting their fate' to never be a successful mobile devices company.

If their mobile software succeeds and becomes as near-essential as Office once was, that could well create a halo effect for their mobile platforms. After all if you use MS software every day on your phone or tablet, why not buy an MS phone or tablet next time you're in the market for one?

Their first order of business in mobile is to become relevant again. Today took their best shot at that in a very long time.