14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is working to revamp its very own mobile platform from the ground up, and in addition to a new name, Windows 10 Mobile, the company is also planning to bring this platform closer to the desktop sibling with a number of improvements, including universal apps designed to run on all devices.
But until Windows 10 Mobile arrives, which, according to some sources, should happen in October 2015, the company is playing a different card supposed to help it become a more important player in the mobile industry and pave the way for a new operating system supposed to better compete with iOS and Android.
Microsoft is becoming much more interested in apps and services designed to run on Android and iOS, and although some Windows Phone users are disappointed by this new approach, the Softies are going forward with this ambitious plan.
In essence, Microsoft is trying to provide iPhone and Android phone users with access to the best apps and services the company has to offer right now, hoping that, when Windows 10 Mobile comes out, all these users will jump ship and move to its platform looking for better integration of these products.
Acompli, Sunrise, Wunderlist
It all started on December 2, 2014, when Microsoft announced the acquisition of Acompli, the makers of one of the most popular email apps available in the App Store and Google Play. The app was then renamed to Outlook, so Microsoft is now offering its own email client to those using an iPhone or Android phone.
At the same time, the company is using Acompli’s email client to develop the next email client for Windows 10, but needless to say, this would offer additional options, better integration with the operating system, and support for Cortana, which should make the whole package more appealing to non-Windows users.
In February this year, Microsoft purchased Sunrise Atelier, the company that built Sunrise, again one of the top calendar apps on iOS and Android. This time, Microsoft didn’t rename the app, so Sunrise is still available in both stores, but it’s no secret that the company could use it for an overhauled version of the calendar app in Windows 10 Mobile.
Recently, the company has confirmed the acquisition of 6Wunderkinder, the owner of Wunderlist, a top to-do list app on rival platforms. At this point, there’s no indication whether the company could be bundling this app in Windows 10 Mobile or release it on Windows Phone too, but integrating it into Windows 10 Mobile is always a possible scenario.
Cortana on Android and iOS
In addition to all these acquisitions, Microsoft also brought the majority of its apps, including Skype, Office, OneDrive, and OneNote, on Android and iOS, and the company is now working to go even further by releasing the top service on Windows Phone on non-Windows platforms.
Cortana, the personal assistant that was until recently exclusively available on Windows Phone, will also become available on Android and iOS devices later this year, as part of an effort that would put the company’s digital assistant against its rival Siri on Apple’s own playground.
Cortana will also launch on Windows 10 PCs and tablets later this year, but some of its features will continue to be exclusively available on Windows platforms mostly because of the limitations of rival operating systems. Hey Cortana, for instance, will continue to work on Windows Phone and Windows 10 only.
Overall, Microsoft has a very ambitious plan to win the mobile market, but until Windows 10 Mobile arrives, the company really has to remain relevant through other methods, and bringing all of its products on iOS and Android is a way to do that.
But only time will tell if this is the winning strategy, so we’ll have to wait and see if iPhone and Android phone users are indeed ready to jump ship thanks to the deeper integration of Microsoft services in Windows 10.