14 DAY TRIAL // It's not a secret that Microsoft wants to merge its Windows platforms to provide a unified experience across all devices, but the Redmond tech giant now hopes that the 2013 improvements help it achieve the goal of bringing its platforms closer.
In a blog post presenting the steps Microsoft made this year to “create opportunities for developers,” the company also explains that unification has become a priority because it allows users and devs to experience apps in a truly new way.
“Creating a shared experience for all devices – phone, tablet, PC – that access the platform increases your opportunity to reach the maximum number of potential users. In addition, users are engaging with the Store more frequently, with transaction volume up 3x year-over-year, and 12M transactions per day heading into a busy holiday season,” Microsoft said.
“Although we made a number of improvements throughout the year, the biggest change came in November with the release of the unified Windows and Windows Phone registration experience. This single, lower-cost registration workflow makes it much easier for you to address an even larger base of users across device types and located in over 190 markets.”
Microsoft is said to be working to continue this unification of Windows platforms with a future release, as the company is planning to merge Windows Phone and Windows RT into a single platform delivering a much more advanced experience to users of both tablets and smart phones.
Windows Threshold, one of the major Windows releases that could see daylight in 2014, is supposed to complete the merger, which means that users would be allowed to purchase an app and install it on any other device running Windows. This includes desktop PCs, tablets, phones, and Xbox One consoles.
Of course, Microsoft doesn't talk too much about these plans, but it's pretty clear that unification is the next step in Redmond's strategy, so expect more exciting news on this next year.