14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft will soon start selling the Huawei Mate 10 Pro as part of the Chinese manufacturer’s effort to expand in the United States, but news that the software giant brings Android devices in its stores are barely surprising.
Even though at first glance, the maker of Windows phones and developing company of Windows 10 Mobile selling devices running a rival platform is indeed unexpected, that is.
But Microsoft’s increasing focus on Android devices is barely new, and it all started last year in the spring when the company started selling the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+. And since then, the company continued bringing Android phones in its stores regularly, so right now, Microsoft is actually selling more devices running Google’s mobile operating system than Windows phones.
First spotted by Neowin last week when Microsoft silently removed the Acer Liquid Jade Primo and the Liquid M330 Windows phones from the online store, Android tipping the scales in its own favor is becoming more obvious following today’s news when the Redmond-based tech giant is added as an official retailer of the Mate 10 Pro.
Only two Windows phones
According to the store listings, there are three different Android phones up for grabs from the Microsoft Store right now, namely Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, and Razer Phone, with only two Windows phones – HP Elite X3 and Alcatel IDOL 4S.
If we add the upcoming Huawei Mate 10 Pro and we count the Galaxy S8 and S8+ separately, it means Microsoft will soon be selling five Android devices and only two Windows phones. And it gets worse: the company is currently offering a major discount for the Alcatel IDOL 4S, which is available for just $99, and there’s a good chance it’ll be sold out very soon and then removed from the store as well. This means the HP Elite X3 will remain the only Windows phone still available at the Microsoft Store.
For what it’s worth, there’s no Microsoft phone currently listed in the Microsoft Store, as all Lumia models have been removed already, including the flagship Lumia 950 and 950 XL.
