Rumor: OEMs paying $85 for Windows RT

Software giant Microsoft® is allegedly charging original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) $85 a pop to license Windows® RT for their tablet computers, according to a report from VR-Zone.

The pricing model has not been confirmed, but VR-Zone claims it spoke with several vendors during the Computex trade show in Taipei who said Microsoft was charging between $80 and $95 for the operating system designed to run on ARM-based tablet computers.

What this will mean for Microsoft in the tablet market is difficult to say. As VR-Zone points out, it will make it virtually impossible for OEMs to follow the same strategy with Windows tablets as they have with Android™ devices. Being open source, Android is available to OEMs for free, meaning manufacturers can offer these tablets at a lower price.

Windows RT is one of three versions of the Windows 8 operating system soon to be released by Microsoft. The other two versions -- both designed for Intel® devices -- are also expected to see a price hike, though it is unclear yet by how much, according to DigiTimes.