14 DAY TRIAL // We’ve known for a while that Microsoft has been working around the clock on bringing Android and Windows closer together, and now the company has reportedly made a huge step in this regard.
The software giant has brought all teams working on Android projects under the same roof, and the purpose of the new Android team is specifically to improve the way the Google mobile operating system interacts with Windows.
The Surface Duo OS, SwiftKey, Phone Link, Microsoft Launcher, and several other mobile teams that previously worked as part of other divisions have been included in the so-called “Android Microsoft Platform and Experiences, or AMPX.
As per WindowsCentral, some of these groups, such as SwiftKey and Microsoft Launcher, previously operated under the Microsoft Mobile Experiences, or MMX. The bigger difference was that this division also included iOS and iPadOS products, so at this point, it’s pretty clear Microsoft’s goal is specifically on improving the relationship between Android and Windows.
Android is now Windows’ BFF
At first glance, what Microsoft wants to obtain is the interoperability that exists between iOS and macOS. Of course, it’s much harder to do this given Android is Google’s mobile operating system, but the open-source nature of the platform is providing Microsoft with the opportunity of evolving the integration with Windows in a substantial manner.
In fact, this is precisely the purpose of the newly-founded team. In addition to the experiences that we already have today, and which are mostly powered by Phone Link, Microsoft wants Android and Windows to provide users with more advanced functionality that would mimic the integration between iPhone and Mac.
Of course, this can’t happen overnight, but it’s very clear where Microsoft is aiming. Phone Link will certainly continue to evolve, so in the long term, it looks like Android is the one that will become Windows’ BFF.