Why Microsoft seems to embrace open source software

Recently I listened to an episode of the Late Night Linux show. The presenters talked about Microsoft making a strategic turn towards open source software. This looks to be a fundamental change in the Microsoft business model. The reasoning was that that this move is directed towards Apple.

To me, this makes not much sense. If you think of all the recent efforts made by Microsoft to dominate the bulk software and services market, most failed and they were all beaten by Google: Chrome vs Edge, Google vs Bing, Android vs Windows Mobile/Windows Phone. Only in the Office space Microsoft seems to hold its ground. And while the Windows operating system is bloated as can be, more and more Chromebooks are conquering the schools and premium Chomebook laptops start to appear.

In this light Apple is just a (profitable) sideshow selling about 12.5% of US laptops and about 14% of global smartphones (measured in volume). Now I am no IT specialist but I do know that in the long run volume counts and volume seems to be what Microsoft is trying to hold on to. And connecting to the increasingly open source world is the only way to go.