Microsoft Corp. announced the restoration of the Start menu and availability of some versions of its operating systems (OS) to smartphones for free. These strategies are believed to boost support and usability of its Windows software.

The software giant, on Wednesday, announced at a developer conference that the Start menu, which was removed in the Windows 8 OS in 2012, will be restored in the upcoming update to make it easier for users to locate their apps on PC desktops. It is also offering certain versions of its Windows to smartphones, tablets with screen smaller than nine inches, and "Internet of Things" devices, such as smart thermostats and smoke alarms, for free.

"These are exciting times for us and exciting times for developers," said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to Mercury News.

The enhancements are part of the software giant's plans to contend in the PC industry where it once dominated.

"They are absolutely on the defensive, with their own customers and developers," said Avi Greengart, an analyst at Current Analysis, to Mercury News. "But they admit it."

However, aside from struggling in that industry, Nadella is also piloting the whole company to work hard to compete not just for the PC industry, but also in new areas of businesses to further expand the company's market.

Aside from restoring the Smart menu and offering Windows OS for free, Nadella also announced a new version of the Kinect for Windows PCs and a new version of the Windows Phone software that includes Cortana, a Siri-like intelligent assistant that responds to voice commands.

The new software also features a notification center similar to Android and iPhone devices, and a keyboard that lets users type in words just by swiping fingers from one letter to another. This new software will be launched in the next few weeks.