Microsoft Build Conference completed two days back and there has been quite an uproar about less Windows 10 Mobile or Windows Phone talk from the users perspective. But, Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft thinks otherwise.
In his interview with Business Insider, he said Windows for mobile is not a separate Windows anymore as it is all just one Windows.
“First of all, I don’t think of Windows for mobile differently than Windows for HoloLens or Windows for Xbox now. We have only one Windows. We don’t have multiple Windows. They run across multiple form factors, but it’s one developer platform, one store, one toolchain for developers. And you adapt it for different screen sizes and different input and output.”
In Satya Nadella’s vision, Continuum feature plays the defining role for Windows Mobile. Back to the BI interview, When he was asked what does Microsoft get by continuing to have and develop a mobile platform, he said the following.
“But what we get … I’m not trying to be another phone guy with the other person’s rules. What is unique about our phones is this Continuum feature. If anything, we will want to continue to build that capability out.”
The Continuum feature allows you to to plug your phone into a monitor with a mouse and keyboard to simulate a PC experience. While the feature is undoubtedly great, it’s just that Apple and Google might follow anytime to catch up on it. Right now, Nadella has a long term vision which doesn’t change things overnight to beat Apple and Google. Microsoft tried it once and they failed.
In later parts of interview, Nadella talks about category-creation and mobile:
“Just like how with Surface we were able to create a category. Three years ago most people would have said, “What is a two-in-one?” And now even Apple has a two-in-one. And so three years from now, I hope that people will look and say, “Oh wow, that’s right, this is a phone that can also be a PC.”
“Take emerging markets. India for sure is a mobile-first country. But I don’t think it will be a mobile-only country for all time. An emerging market will have more computing in their lives, not less computing, as there is more GDP and there is more need. As they grow they will also want computers that grow from their phone. What’s the most logical thing? I would claim it’s a Continuum phone, which means that it can have other forms of input beyond touch.”
One thing is for sure, Microsoft is damn serious about their mobile vision. In fact, the purchase of Xamarin for 435 Million dollars and then giving it for free to developers, Bash, software bridges are all proof of that. Once the developers come onboard with Windows 10, they will automatically be serving the Windows 10 Mobile audience.