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Ooyala announced a strategic relationship with Microsoft Corp. to help develop, promote and accelerate the deployment of next-generation IP video services utilizing Microsoft Azure Media Services (Media Services) in conjunction with Ooyala's SaaS-based video distribution, analytics and monetization technology. Ooyala also formed a global sales and marketing alliance with Microsoft, which is designed to drive standardization of new personalized TV services for broadcasters and operators around the world. Through this partnership, Ooyala becomes a preferred online video provider for Microsoft and Microsoft becomes Ooyala's preferred public cloud provider. With the massive scale of its combined technologies, customers of any size can build and deploy hybrid systems integrated with existing video infrastructures, as well as end-to-end digital video workflows utilizing the full complement of Microsoft and Ooyala tools and services. With Ooyala and Media Services, customers are able to solve for the challenges of multi-screen services efficiently and reliably. The collaboration brings together Microsoft's proven Media Services solution, which recently supported massive online viewership to a global audience of 22 countries on 4 continents for the 2014 Olympic Games, with Ooyala's data-driven video delivery and analytics technology, which is deployed by top publishers, broadcasters and operators in more than 130 countries worldwide.

Microsoft Corp. announced several advances to Windows including Windows Phone 8.1, the availability of Windows 8.1 Update, a converged developer platform, and a $0 royalty licensing program for OEM and ODM partners developing smartphones and tablets with screens under nine inches. Microsoft detailed new developer opportunities on the Windows platform with a common platform across devices, a single toolset, a common infrastructure across the Windows and Windows Phone stores, and a clear commitment to interoperability. The announcements highlight Microsoft's continued commitment to its partners and the developer community by maximizing opportunities across the broadest range of devices and services. Also as a part of the conference, Nokia announced three new Lumia smartphones for Windows Phone 8.1, including the Lumia 930, the affordable Lumia 635 and the first dual-SIM Lumia 630. Microsoft unveiled Windows Phone 8.1 and introduced Cortana, the world's first truly personal digital assistant with a persona inspired by a much-loved 'Halo' character. Other new features that make Windows Phone 8.1 smartphones even more personal include Action Center, which complements Live Tiles by showing new activities and notifications at a glance; and Senses, a suite of features that takes the work out of managing data use, storage space and battery life. Windows Phone 8.1 also makes it easier for IT professionals to manage devices and for professionals to connect to essential business apps and services with features such as simplified device enrollment, a built-in mobile device management client, S/MIME for encrypted mail and VPN support. Windows Phone 8.1 will start rolling out to current Windows Phone 8 users over the coming months. Windows 8.1 Update: easier to use, runs great on more devices. Key features of the update include user interface improvements for mouse and keyboard users, the ability to access the taskbar from any screen and pin Windows Store apps to the taskbar alongside desktop apps and favorite websites, and performance and compatibility enhancements to Internet Explorer 11. These improvements provide fast, more direct access to the things customers care most about, so activities such as powering down, searching the Web and switching between apps are easier than ever. Navigating with the mouse and keyboard will feel more familiar and intuitive because there's more consistency with where controls are and how they work.

Microsoft Corporation announced that Stephen Elop has been named as the new head of devices at Microsoft, effective from the closure of its Nokia acquisition. Elop's official job title will be executive vice president, Microsoft devices group. He will report directly to Nadella. The company also announced that Scott Guthrie has been promoted to the role of executive vice president in charge of Microsoft's cloud and enterprise organisation, a unit he has headed up on an interim basis for the past two months. The company also named Phil Spencer as the head of Microsoft's Xbox business, which will bring together its Xbox and Xbox Live development teams with the Microsoft Studios team.