14 DAY TRIAL // Having two operating systems installed on the same computer is not something unusual, one should agree, especially when it comes to Microsoft's Windows client and a Linux-based platform from the wide range available out there. However, things are becoming pretty interesting when the same applies to a smartphone, even if today's handsets are as powerful as a computer used to be about a decade ago, or even more powerful, for that matter.
And since the smartphones currently available on the market have the power within them, people gave it a try, and managed to put two mobile operating systems in one device, with the possibility to easily boot in which one of them. Users owning a Windows Mobile-based device, and not necessarily a latest generation one, can now have Android on the phone without wiping out the original platform, all thanks to a solution called Gen.Y DualBOOT, available courtesy of the guys over at XDA-Developers.
For those who might consider the process as being too complicated, there's a video for that, available below, as well as detailed step-by-step instructions on how to make a Windows phone offer both Windows Mobile and Android as boot options. Not too mention that one can put Android on external storage or on the internal memory of the phone, depending on preferences. In case this process seems too complicated to give it a try, then one might also try out some already cooked ROMs for Windows Mobile-based devices, which are said to include all that is needed for dual boot Windows Mobile and Android on the same phone.
One thing that is certain here is that not all might go as planned, so those who are not sure on how to perform all the steps should stay away. We do not encourage modifying the software on your handset, regardless the operating system it runs under, for there are always risks that should be taken into consideration. However, if you know what you are doing and want to give the dual boot solution a try, additional details on the process can be found in the video below and in this post over at pocketnow.