Microsoft spending $405 million on Windows marketing, aiming for 16 million tablet sales

Microsoft started a huge advertising campaign for Windows 8 and Surface during its launch last year, but the company is reportedly planning to spend even more this year for Windows 8.1. Winsupersite reports that Microsoft spent $241 million on retail Windows efforts last year, but that it’s expected to spend around $405 million this year. $131 million is said to be related to offers and incentives, while the rest ($274 million) will be spent on marketing and operating expenses.

The aim of the big spend is to push Windows tablets in retail stores. Microsoft is reportedly aiming for around 16 million Windows tablet sales over the holiday season, with improvements to its marketing and retail efforts being the main changes to help convince consumers to buy Windows tablets. Microsoft recently teamed up with Best Buy to create Windows Stores inside 600 retail locations and the software giant is doing the same with over retailers around the world. Windows tablet sales have been slow since the release of Windows 8 a year ago, and Microsoft is clearly hoping that Windows 8.1 and a new range of devices will help spur them on this time around. Read more MSFT.