14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft’s making new internal changes, with Panos Panay, the man who everybody knows as the leader of the Surface team, appointed the new boss of the Windows and hardware groups.
The new unit will be called Windows + Devices, according to a report from ZDNet.
Joe Belfiore, who is widely known as the former leader of Windows and Windows Phone, will move from Windows Experience to the Office Experience Group.
But the more interesting tidbit concerns the reasons that might have triggered the reorganization.
The cited source reveals that Panos Panay might have considered leaving Microsoft and even joining Apple, according to the rumor mill. While such information has never been confirmed, giving Panos Panay a more important role within the company could help Microsoft make sure its Surface chief no longer wants to depart.
Dual-screen devices
In an internal memo sent to the newly-formed Windows + Devices group, Panay highlights some of the long-term priorities of the team.
“We believe this will make the Windows Client experience better for the entire PC ecosystem. Designing hardware and software together will enable us to do a better job on our long term Windows bets (dual screen, silicon diversity, connectivity, app platform, etc.) and having a single point of Windows Client Experience leadership driving consistent priorities and resourcing across all of Windows client will help all of us accelerate innovation and improve execution,” Panay says.
2020 is an important year from a hardware perspective from Microsoft, as the company is projected to launch its first Android phone and dual-screen device in the holiday season.
Announced in October 2019, Surface Duo and Surface Neo are two devices pioneering new categories, with Microsoft expecting an influx of similar products from its partners, including Dell, HP, Lenovo, and others.