Is Microsoft planning to dump Windows Phone?

NEW DELHI: If you’ve been closely following mobile platforms related developments, you would know that Windows Phone has been losing share as Android and iOS continue to dominate the market.

While Microsoft has been extending its apps and services to other operating system making its own mobile platform less relevant, it has continued to support development and I set to introduce Windows 10 for phones. However, it looks like Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and his team members could be having second thoughts about continuing with the development of Windows on phones and small tablets.

According to Twitter account @MSFTnerd, a user who is believed to be close to Microsoft’s internal developments, Nadella and Microsoft’s senior leadership team are debating on whether the company should continue Windows on phones and small tablets or just bundle Microsoft services on Android, going forward. The development was reported by Softpedia.



We’ve seen Microsoft introducing Office apps on other mobile platforms and inking tie-ups with the likes of Samsung for bundling its apps on Android phones. Perhaps, Microsoft is reconsidering investing resources on Windows Phone, which commands a meager 3.2% share of the smartphone market (as per IDC). The company can reach out to customers who use its services via other platforms.

The user also tweeted that there were murmurs that “Microsoft was working on changing its relationship with Google around location services and video on Windows and ads.”

Further, the account tweeted that “Microsoft would push Google Play devices with Microsoft apps in exchange for Google providing first-class Maps, YouTube, Search on Windows.” It’s not clear if this implies that Microsoft will make its own Android devices bundled with its apps or just pre-load its apps on Google devices like the Nexus phones.


Image courtesy: Softpedia

However, Google developing quality apps for Windows Phone would be a big move. Google and Microsoft had been at the loggerheads with each other when the latter had developed a full-fledged YouTube app for Windows Phone. Google had blocked it alleging that the app was against its terms of service.

Microsoft has been trying hard to reduce the app gap between Windows Phone and competing platforms. In April, Microsoft executives had announced that the company will release new tools to help developers quickly adapt the apps they’ve built for Apple or Android devices, so they will work on smartphones, PCs and other devices that use the new Windows 10 operating system.