(Image source from: Microsoft makes Windows free for smartphones)

Microsoft Corp today announced its landmark decision to make its Windows operating system free for smartphones and small tablets for consumers, giving a head on competition to Google Inc's free Android platform.

Microsoft's made the announcement at its annual developers conference in San Francisco. Company CEO Satya Nadella said that this move is an attempt to widen the small user base of mobile versions of Windows, hoping that more customers will be drawn to Microsoft's money-making, cloud-based services such as Skype and Office.

Until now, Microsoft charged etween $5 and $15 per device to use its Windows system.

AW: Suchorita Choudhury