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Microsoft Not Focusing on Windows Phone This Year, Prepares Cool Things for 2017

Terry Myerson says phones are not the focus for 2016

Mar 31, 2016 04:20 GMT  ·  By
Windows Phone will only get major updates next year
   Windows Phone will only get major updates next year

Windows Phone devices have only recently received the upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile, and everyone who loves the platform hopes this to be the beginning of a new push for Microsoft in the mobile industry after such a long wait for the new operating system.

But it appears, however, that Redmond’s embracing a different strategy, and 2016 is not the year of phones, as Terry Myerson, head of the OS group at Microsoft, has explained that the company wants to focus on other projects in the next 12 months.

In an interview with The Verge on the sideline of Build, Myerson claims that while the company isn’t giving up on phones, 2016 is just about something else. The Windows chief also acknowledges the struggle that Windows Phone lives with on the mobile market, clearly stating that it’s not keeping the platform alive in order to become a leader in this business.

"We're fully committed to that 4-inch screen, there will be a time for it to be our focus, but right now it's part of the family but it's not the core of where I hope to generate developer interest over the next year. There's no lack of recognition to realize how important that form factor is, but for Microsoft with Windows and for our platform it's the wrong place for us to lead,” he is quoted as saying.

“We’re not giving up on Windows Phone”

Myerson has clearly stated that Microsoft isn’t giving up on Windows Phone and announced some “cool things” in 2017 on the mobile side. This means that the Surface Phone, if such a project exists, can only see daylight next year.

"If you wanted to reach a lot of phone customers, Windows Phone isn't the way to do it. If you want to reach a lot of Windows customers, then this is the largest install base of 9 to 30-inch screens. If you wanted to do new and exciting things, then the Xbox and HoloLens is the place to have a discussion,” Myerson concludes.

So there you go, if you’re on Windows Phone or Windows 10 Mobile at the moment, the chances are that the platform will remain largely the same this year, until the “cool things” coming next year.