This year saw the usual cavalcade of big headlines in business tech. Here are 12 of the biggest stories of 2015.
Perhaps the biggest tech story in the business world in 2015 was the release of Windows 10. The latest upgrade to the world’s most widespread operating system for desktops and laptops was generally well-received, but it also got some backlash at its summer launch due to privacy concerns.
In August, Google announced it was restructuring itself as Alphabet. Google itself will be “slimmed down,” but remain the largest company in Alphabet’s portfolio, while many of the other properties will be managed separately.
The New York Times published an article on the “bruising” workplace of online retailer Amazon in 2015. Amazon pushed back against the Times, but many conversations were started about the culture of overworking in the tech industry.
In November, Dell shelled out $67 billion to acquire enterprise giant EMC. The merger comes after Dell was taken private for nearly $25 billion in 2013.
Issues around encryption were front and center for tech companies in 2015, and Apple CEO Tim Cook took a strong stand against government officials calling for a “back door” to access company data.
Microsoft announced that for the first time it was making its own laptop computer, the Surface Book. High-end features on a progressive form factor show that Microsoft is targeting the next generation enterprise customer in the most lucrative part of the market.
This year, Hewlett-Packard officially split into two companies: HP Inc. and HP Enterprise. The move was meant to increase the agility of both companies and streamline their foci.
In September, Apple announced its iPad Pro, which many believed was aimed squarely at business users—partially because of its salty price starting at $799. The move symbolized Apple’s continued efforts to extend an olive branch to its enterprise customers.
While BlackBerry was once the undisputed mobile champion of the enterprise, the tides have turned. In an effort to reclaim its lost crown, BlackBerry released the Priv, a phone powered by Android with a physical keyboard.
In early 2015, the FCC ruled on net neutrality, reclassifying broadband as a Title II telecommunications service. The commission released a 400-page document detailing the new rules, which brought with them a lot of controversy.
Never one to shy away from innovation, Tesla released an OTA update for many of its models that imbued them with autopilot capabilities for $2500. The move marks the first general release of self-driving car technology for the public.
Adding another major release to its roster in 2015, Microsoft announced its augmented reality platform, Hololens. The project is aimed strongly at businesses and could pick up where Google Glass notoriously left off.
Conner is a former Senior Editor for TechRepublic. He is now a Senior Research Analyst at 451 Research.
