Surface RT: poor tablet performance has cost Microsoft $900 million

Microsoft has admitted that he poor performance of its Surface RT line of tablets has cost the company $900 million.

The figure came as part of Microsoft's investor call last night, during which the company confirmed that the division that includes Xbox rose 8% last year.

CVG reports that lacklustre sales of Surface RT and the loss announcement caused Microsoft's shares to dip 7%. The site added that some four million Surface RT tablets are believed to be manufactured by the company, with only a quarter sold since launch.

During the investor call, Microsoft's chief financial officer Amy Hood said: "We know we must do better. We are confident we are moving in the right direction".

The news follows a confirmed Surface RT price cut. Get the new prices here.