Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Helping Google Inc. (GOOG)?

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has been working hard to made a stronger play in the mobile marketplace, thanks to the launch of the Windows 8 and correlated Windows 8 Phone operating systems last fall. While there was some hype over the new OS, Microsoft seemed to be a bit vague about its sales numbers in last week’s earnings report, which has caused some mixed reactions by the market since. The company even went so far as to launch its own hardware with the Surface RT tablet computer – with the Surface Pro due to come out in the coming weeks.

But could Windows 8 actually be helping Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), which runs competitor OSs Chrome and Android?

While Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) is getting huge results from its Android operating system in the smartphone space, the company has been struggling to get traction with its Chrome OS, but it seems that several Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) OEMs have announced alliances with Google to develop and launch their versions of Chromebook. The latest “defection” could very well come from Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ), a longtime Windows OEM, which is apparently about to announce its own iteration of a Chromebook that would be run by the Chrome OS created by Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG). This report comes in the wake of a recent report from Acer that it has seen solid sales of its Chromebook, while at the same time announcing that its sales of Windows 8-powered computers.

While Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is seeming to be quick to blame the OEMs for their Windows 8 sales, it seems that these manufacturers have been looking for another avenue in the PC and tablet market once Microsoft launched its own hardware called Surface. Meanwhile, Acer says it may start launching Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) Chromebooks in markets outside the U.S., after the devices have accounted for nearly 10 percent of all U.S. sales.

What is happening with Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)?