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Say… WHAT! Windows 10 Mobile To Support Android Apps!?
All roads lead to Google it seems. First BlackBerry, now Microsoft. Everybody wants access to Google Play these days
Richard Goodwin
13:58, 6 Oct 2015
Word on the street suggests Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 10 platform WILL support Android applications. No, really! According to multiple sources and the Twitterverse, Google will join Microsoft on stage at tomorrow’s big Windows 10 handset reveal.
Have Microsoft and Google patched up their differences? Or is this more a case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend? We have no clue, but after the positive press the BlackBerry Priv has received, as well as the central role content and applications play inside any ecosystem, it comes as no surprise that Microsoft, like BlackBerry, will attempt to plug the gaping hole in its ecosystem by leveraging Google Play.
Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 10 platform has been slowly building shape over the past 12 months. A lot of attention has been given to how Microsoft plans on competing with Android and iOS and whether or not it is actually too late for any other platform to come in and challenge their dominance. To be sure, Microsoft has an uphill battle. But smart moves — such as supporting Android apps — can really shore up support for a new, fresher platform.
“Chatter on Twitter suggests that Google will be present at Microsoft’s grand Windows 10 Devices event tomorrow,” reports Beta News, “and it would announce Android apps support for Windows 10 Mobile devices. Bolstering the theory is the two company’s seemingly improving relationship, the biggest testament of which was up on display when the two recently agreed to drop 20 patent lawsuits they had filed against each other.”
So, Microsoft and Google have kissed and made up. Splendid. This is very good news for anyone excited about Microsoft’s upcoming range of Windows 10 handsets. Windows Phone always struggled with applications and games content, so a deal with Google would finally put this issue to bed once and for all while Microsoft works with its developers to create unique and engaging, bespoke Windows 10 applications.
“Google and Microsoft have agreed to collaborate on certain patent matters and anticipate working together in other areas in the future to benefit our customers”
Another interesting aside from this story is the idea of Windows 10 Mobile being made available as downloadable software for Android handsets, whereby Android users with compatible handsets can download the Windows 10 software and run it on their Android phones.
Now, this would be problematic for Google if Microsoft simply found a backdoor into Android. But getting a deal in place avoids any nastiness, as all of Google’s services — the thing it makes money with — will be front and centre, while Microsoft’s Windows 10 gets some much needed exposure in the months after its release.
Either scenario is pretty interesting, if we’re honest, so it’ll be great to see what Microsoft and Google confirm at tomorrow’s event.
More news as we get it…