Mobile Giants Transformations

As it was recently reported about possible migration of Windows XP users to Google’s Chrome OS, the situation in the world of mobile operation systems looks just the opposite. According to official (insider) sources, Microsoft itself is considering about the possible transfer of Android applications to Windows and Windows Phone.

The reasons for this step are well known: Windows Phone suffers from limited amount of applications, and Microsoft does not always manage to attract the developers’ interest to the platform.

It looks like Microsoft has eventually realized that it is not possible to stop the Android invasion, and the best way to find a relatively beneficial solution of this situation lies in the possible cooperation with Google. By allowing the huge amount applications from Google Play, Microsoft would definitely get rid of the problem with the lack of content, and would possibly transfer new users to its own services. However, the consequences can be sad, a vivid example of which is BlackBerry.

Despite the technical difficulties, the integration and support of Android directly on Windows and Windows Phone is possible; however, this method can simply destroy the Windows Phone as a platform, since not every developer wants to create an application under Windows-based Metro interface, when there’s a possibility of releasing a simple port of the standard Android apps.

It has also become known that Intel is promoting its concept of running two operating systems on a single device, and the company representatives really insist on letting the Android applications to the Windows Store.

However, there are also some examples of poor integration, e.g. Amazon Store for Kindle is currently full of outdated Android applications.

Anyway, such a move by Microsoft is fraught with enormous risks. Yet, the software giant can afford to do experiment, as the fate of the company is not dependent on the mobile division.

At the same time, Nokia, which is under Microsoft’s control, is rumored to release a smartphone based on its own work-version of Android. Yet, these devices will be most likely shipped without Google Play store.

Nevertheless, even if Microsoft decides on the Android-to- Windows application integration, it will not happen before 2015, i.e. after the release of Windows 9.

However, the company is also considering the release of free versions of Windows Phone and Windows RT, which in turn may spur interest among developers in order to start delivering apps for this particular platform.