China Banned Use of Windows 8 in Government Offices

China is banning the use of the government of the operating system Microsoft Windows 8 , according to a notice posted on its website.

Procurement Center is banning the central government computers installing Windows 8 or purchasing new devices with the software, the Chinese news site Xinhuareports . The government sent the message announcing the change in policy last week. The consumer of Windows 8 in the Chinese market will not be affected .

Although details regarding the ban are vague , the government said it will only buy products energy efficient technology from now , from desktops and laptops to tablets But the move is also said to protect the safety of equipment after that Microsoft dropped support for Windows XP, which was used extensively throughout the country .

StatCounter Signature Market states that Windows XP systems constitute 44 % of desktop computers in China, while Windows 8 is only installed on 3.4 % of computers .

The news comes as China emphasized that Microsoft should lower the price of its Windows products. Although the use of Windows in China has been low , the Chinese government was a major customer of Microsoft .

According to reports , This news was a surprise for Microsoft "Microsoft will continue to provide Windows 7 for Government Customers , " the company said in an email , according to PCWorld . "At the same time, we are working on Window 8 assessment with relevant government agencies. "

Meanwhile, the company is preparing for "small" surface event in New York City on Tuesday , it is likely that the release of their first mini tablet to compete with Apple and tablets with smaller screens of Amazon .