Microsoft Corporation + China Electronics Technology Group Corporation
Microsoft Corporation
Redmond, Washington · 2 relationships
Active relationship
Joint Venture · 2015–present
China Electronics Technology Group Corporation
Beijing, Beijing · 1 relationship
Analysis
Microsoft and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) announced a partnership in September 2015 to serve Chinese government agencies and critical-infrastructure state-owned enterprises with localized Windows 10 technology and services. The parties said they would work on configuring, deploying and maintaining a localized operating system for specialized users; CETC affiliates would join Microsoft's partner network and receive training, certification and advanced developer support. [1]
In December 2015, Microsoft announced a new joint venture provisionally called C&M Information Technologies, based in Beijing and intended to license, deploy, manage, optimize and support Windows 10 for government agencies and selected state-owned enterprises. C&M was to act as the exclusive licensor of a government-approved Windows 10 image, provide activation, patch management, deployment and support services, and collect user feedback for later image updates. Microsoft explicitly said it would retain ownership of the core Windows 10 technology. [2]
The resulting product was Windows 10 China Government Edition. Microsoft said in May 2017 that CMIT had developed the edition with support from Microsoft and CETC, based on Windows 10 Enterprise but adapted for Chinese government customers. The edition could remove services such as OneDrive, manage telemetry and updates, and allow government users to use their own encryption algorithms; China Customs, Shanghai's Commission of Economy and Informatization and state-owned Westone were identified as early pilot customers. [3]
The partnership's current position is more qualified than its launch announcements suggested. An August 2026 report citing Bloomberg said China's Ministry of State Security had instructed some state-linked organizations to remove the customized Windows 10 edition, accelerating a retirement that CMIT had reportedly planned for February 2027; the report also said Microsoft stated it was not aware of a security incident affecting the product. This reporting indicates a product phase-out among some users, but it does not by itself establish that the CMIT joint venture has been legally dissolved. [4]
Participants
Continue through either entity
Redmond, Washington · 2 records in this database
Microsoft began in 1975, when Bill Gates and Paul Allen started a company to develop software for the Altair 8800, an early personal computer. Microsoft’s own account presents that origin as a response to the emerging microcomputer market, while its latest annual report confirms the 1975 founding date and describes the company as a developer of software, services, devices, and solutions. [1] [2]
In fiscal 2025, Microsoft described its mission as empowering every person and organization to achieve more and framed artificial intelligence as a shift affecting the technology stack. Its portfolio spans cloud computing, productivity and collaboration, personal computing, server software, gaming, advertising, devices, and developer tools. The annual report recorded $281.7 billion in revenue, $168.9 billion in Microsoft Cloud revenue, and Azure revenue above $75 billion for the year. [2]
Microsoft’s reportable segments are Productivity and Business Processes, Intelligent Cloud, and More Personal Computing. The filing identifies Microsoft 365, LinkedIn, Dynamics, Azure and other server/cloud services, Windows and devices, and Xbox among the associated offerings, and places the corporate headquarters at One Microsoft Way in Redmond, Washington. Redmond also remains a major engineering and operations base, alongside Microsoft’s international offices, datacenters, and research facilities. [2] [3]
China Electronics Technology Group Corporation
Beijing, Beijing · 1 record in this database
China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) is described on its current corporate website as a centrally managed important backbone state-owned enterprise with a complete research-and-innovation system in electronic information. [1] The same source places CETC in a leading position in China’s military electronics and cyber/information fields and assigns it roles in national-defense modernization, the digital economy and public services. [1]
CETC was officially established on March 1, 2002, from 46 electronics research institutes and 26 enterprises formerly under the Ministry of Information Industry. [1] The group completed a corporate-system reform in December 2017 and changed its name from China Electronics Technology Group Corporation to China Electronics Technology Group Corporation Limited. [1]
CETC’s official English introduction describes a defense-electronics portfolio organized around air-base early warning, integrated electronic-information systems, radar, communications and navigation, electronic warfare, UAV electronics and integrated identification-friend-or-foe systems. [2] It also lists security and information businesses involving public security, e-government, intelligent transportation, new energy and electronic components. [2]
The English profile further states that CETC’s market extends to more than 110 countries and regions and that the group promotes strategic cooperation with companies, research institutes and universities. [2] It identifies participation in bodies and initiatives including the International Telecommunication Union and the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization. [2] Together with the current site’s directory of member units and listed companies, these materials depict CETC as a research-to-industry platform spanning defense electronics, civil information systems and international technology cooperation. [1] [2]