Research firm IDC has released several reports with its predictions for 2012, and the reports include some interesting predictions for Microsoft.

Among the Microsoft tidbits:

Mary Jo Foley at ZDNet has a write-up of IDC's prediction that Microsoft will launch Windows 8 with split success and that Windows 8 will be "largely irrelevant to users of traditional PCs." That 's from IDC's "Worldwide System Infrastructure Software 2012 Top 10 Predictions" report (fee required).

In its "IDC Predictions 2012: Competing for 2020" report, the research firm predicts:

• "Microsoft will have a major test in its attempt to establish a leading role in a mobile-centric client world as it rolls out Windows 8 as its tablet (and PC) operating system... -- a giant bet with significant risk."


• Microsoft needs to buy or develop a strong media/content cloud -- without which "the competiveness of Microsoft's mobile platforms could be greatly diminished," IDC says. It proposes Microsoft buy Netflix as a possible move to "make a big splash to strengthen its mobile ecosystem."


• Micorosft will buy LinkedIn, IDC predicts, in an "attempt to shore up its collaboration offerings (SharePoint) and -- more broadly -- its cloud platform.

Among its more general predictions, IDC believes 2012 is when mobile devices will finally exceed PCs in shipments and spending. In 2011, shipments of mobile devices already exceeded PCs. In 2012, the spending will also, IDC predicts -- to the tune of 895 million mobile devices ($277 billion) compared with less than 400 million PCs ($257 billion).