Microsoft to negotiate with China after Windows 8 ban

The Chinese government has banned all government agencies from installing Windows 8 on its computers. Image: Windows 8 Drivers

"We were surprised to learn about the reference to Windows 8 in this notice," the company said in a statement, referring to a Chinese government official notice.

"Microsoft has been working proactively with the Central Government Procurement Centre and other government agencies through the evaluation process to ensure that our products and services meet all government procurement requirements," it said.

"We have been and will continue to provide Windows 7 to government customers. At the same time, we are working on the Windows 8 evaluation with relevant government agencies," the company said.

News of the Chinese ban came amid a diplomatic row over an indictment in the United States of five members of a shadowy Chinese military unit for allegedly hacking US companies for trade secrets.

Beijing has summoned the US ambassador and accused Washington of double standards.

China at the same time suspended co-operation with the US on cyber-security issues and banned the use of Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system on all new government computers.

Source: AFP via I-Net Bridge