14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 10 Mobile is expected to receive a major upgrade in the coming months that would create additional opportunity for Microsoft and other OEMs looking to build devices running this particular operating system.
The Redmond-based software giant is working on a 64-bit version of Windows 10 Mobile, which could be installed on a future smartphone developed by the company, such as the Surface Phone.
With no new Lumia models planned for this year, and with the firm getting ready to focus exclusively on the Surface lineup in 2017, seeing a 64-bit version of Windows 10 Mobile in the works simply makes sense because it allows for better performance and more powerful hardware.
More than 4 GB of RAM
Microsoft confirmed in a cover story (via WindowsCentral) praising the work of Senior Technical Fellow Dave Cutler that a 64-bit version of Windows 10 Mobile is in the works. Here’s an excerpt from the article (emphasis is ours):
“In March 2005, he completed one of his "most gratifying pieces of work" at Microsoft when, partnering with AMD, he helped develop the AMD64 architecture (64-bit extensions to the 32-bit x86 architecture) and led the effort to ship the first two x64 64-bit Windows systems (workstation and server). At the time, some questioned why Microsoft developed a 64-bit system; today most computers are 64-bit systems and even our phones will soon have a 64-bit operating system.”
Specifically, a 64-bit version of Windows 10 Mobile (it’s worth noting that the current build of the OS is 32-bit) would allow devices to have more than 4 GB of RAM and add support for new technologies. But the real gain is the boost in performance possible thanks to more RAM, which could finally make Windows 10 Mobile devices more appealing in the enterprise.
That’s what Microsoft is probably aiming at on the long term anyway, as the enterprise continues to be its main target with Windows 10 Mobile and the upcoming Surface lineup. Rumor has it that there’ll be three different Surface Phone models, one of which will be specifically aimed at business customers.