Microsoft set to double down on Android with dedicated business unit

Microsoft could look for further integration between Android and Windows

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Microsoftis reportedly set to consolidate itsAndroidefforts into a single division in a move that could pave the way for even tighter integration between Google’s mobile operating system and its own Windows platform.

Windows Centralsays Surface Duo OS, SwiftKey, Phone Link and several other Android teams will be moved into a dedicated organization called ‘Android Microsoft Platform and Experiences’, headed up by Chief Product Officer Panos Panay.

The changes were announced in a memo sent to employees earlier this week and no layoffs are expected.

Android and Windows

As recently as 2013, Microsoft hoped to be a major mobile platform holder in its own right with Windows Phone.

However, under the leadership of Satya Nadella, the company has looked to get its services on as many devices as possible, increasing subscription revenues.

Windows 11 finally gets native Android apps>Bill Gates: Windows Phone could have defeated Android>Microsoft Surface Duo 2 review

Until now, Microsoft’s Android efforts had sat under the Microsoft Mobile Experiences (MMX) division banner which also includes iOS and iPadOS.

By creating a dedicated Android division, the suggestion is that Microsoft is doubling down on the platform and intends to create more interoperable experience akin to those betweenApple’s mobile products and its Mac computers.

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Microsoft recently rebranded the‘Your Phone’ application as ‘Phone Link’,whileWindows 11has the ability to natively run some Android applications. Meanwhile, it has also expanded support for Phone Link to include Honor devices, complementing existing partnerships with Surface Duo andSamsung.

Microsoft has been contacted byTechRadar Profor comment.

ViaWindows Central

Steve McCaskill is TechRadar Pro’s resident mobile industry expert, covering all aspects of the UK and global news, from operators to service providers and everything in between. He is a former editor of Silicon UK and journalist with over a decade’s experience in the technology industry, writing about technology, in particular, telecoms, mobile and sports tech, sports, video games and media.

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