Microsoft Corporation (MSFT): Will a Price Cut Make the Surface Relevant?

In recent months, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has been trying to increase consumer interest in its Surface tablet line. Initial hype surrounding the tablet gave way to mild disappointment as many considered the tablet a bit too pricey, especially for the Windows RT version. The tablet didn’t have much in the way of clear advantages over Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)‘s iPad, and one of the big talking points of its debut presentation was revealed to be a $100 add-on. The fact that the tablets were only available at Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Stores or online didn’t help matters as it kept them away from consumers who might have wanted to see firsthand how well the tablets worked.

Now, it seems, the company is trying to turn this around. In addition to getting its tablets in front of the buying public through major retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) and Best Buy, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has also slashed the price of the Surface RT tablet by $150. This pricing change allows customers to pick up a Surface RT for as low as $349, or $449 with the optional touch cover. The question is, will this change be enough?

Why Microsoft needs the Surface

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is no stranger to the tablet market, though early attempts at Windows tablets weren’t exactly stellar. With the growing prevalence of tablets and other mobile devices and the stagnation of PC sales, the Surface marks Microsoft’s attempts to learn from past mistakes and make a sleek product that offers advantages to users who have Windows installed on PCs and laptops.

The shared ecosystem between the Surface (and other modern Windows tablets) and the Windows 8 desktop experience is compelling. If taken full advantage of, this ecosystem could allow the Windows experience to transcend any one device and make Windows tablets a natural extension of a consumer’s home computer.

Since the Surface was developed in-house by Microsoft, it has the potential to serve as the “gold standard” for the Windows tablet experience; while third-party manufacturers will still produce Windows RT and Windows 8 tablets, consumers might prefer the Surface since it would theoretically give them an experience designed from the ground up to support Windows.

This boost in profits and reputation would help to solidify Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s business and brace it against declining PC sales. Selling the “Windows experience” could also aid adoption rates for Windows 8, getting Surface owners used to the Modern UI and selling them on the extended operating environment. Of course, to reach that point the Surface has to overcome Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG).

A tale of market share

Microsoft’s biggest problem with the Surface is that it tried to cut a path into an established market that is dominated by the iPad and tablets using Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s Android operating system. Over 80% of the mobile market is controlled by Android and Apple’s iOS, and in the tablet market specifically the two operating systems account for nearly 98% of all tablets. For Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) to make headway into the tablet market, it needs to take market share away from one or both of the established market leaders.