The demonstration is significant because before now Windows was closely connected with Intel-designed chips.
During its demonstration, Microsoft showed Windows running on Arm-designed chips made by Qualcomm, Texas Instruments and Nvidia.
The announcement formed part of a keynote speech by Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer that opened the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Mr Ballmer said that the next generation of Windows would also run on new versions of these SOCs - Atom from Intel and Fusion from AMD.
Many expect the two to come together as Windows 8, which will handle multi-touch interfaces, a feature poorly supported in the current version of Windows but which is key for slates and tablets where the chips are likely to find a use.
The announcement formed part of a keynote speech by Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer that opened the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Mr Ballmer said that the next generation of Windows would also run on new versions of these SOCs - Atom from Intel and Fusion from AMD.
Many expect the two to come together as Windows 8, which will handle multi-touch interfaces, a feature poorly supported in the current version of Windows but which is key for slates and tablets where the chips are likely to find a use.
