14 DAY TRIAL // It’s not a secret that Microsoft has surrendered to Android and iOS in the mobile world, so while its own Windows phones are slowly disappearing, the software giant is focusing more on devices from other companies.
This is how Samsung’s own phone models ended up being sold in the Microsoft Store, with the Galaxy S8 itself making its way to both the online and the physical stores.
Many, including Microsoft, called the Galaxy S8 sold in the Microsoft Store the “Galaxy S8 Microsoft Edition,” with a clear hint at a potential partnership between the Redmond-based tech giant and the South Korean phone maker.
And while this was believed to be the case, here’s Samsung totally offended by the Microsoft Edition designation and planning to make it a thing of the past.
In a statement to WindowsCentral, Samsung says there’s no such thing as a Microsoft Edition Galaxy S8, and instead the devices that are sold in the Microsoft Store come with nothing more than the typical Microsoft apps like Office and OneDrive.
“Samsung Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, and Galaxy Note8 devices are available in the Microsoft online and retail stores with a unique Microsoft experience which ensures their customers, particularly small-to-midsize business owners and entrepreneurs, a best-in-class productivity experience. There is not a ‘Microsoft Edition’ brand of any Samsung Galaxy products,” the company said.
Not a single word from Microsoft
The more surprising thing concerns the apps on these phones, as Microsoft advertised them as the perfect devices to experience its Android offering, including the Microsoft Launcher.
And the weirder thing is that even the software giant itself called these “Microsoft Edition” phones in a statement earlier this year.
“A Microsoft customization is applied to the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ Microsoft Edition when the devices are unboxed and connected to Wi-Fi. This customization ensures customers a best-in-class productivity experience with Microsoft applications such as Office, OneDrive, Cortana, Outlook and more,” a company spokesperson was quoted as saying.
Microsoft has remained tight-lipped for the time being on Samsung’s request not to call these devices Microsoft Edition anymore, but we’ve reached out to the company and will update the article when more info is provided.