It seems that Microsoft has finally succumbed to the pressure. The upcoming Windows 10 operating system for smartphones is rumored to be able to run Android apps. This is seen as an attempt to bridge the gap between Windows phone users and the majority of smartphone users. And if we can remember, this was one of the moves that BlackBerry did to save itself. Admittedly, there are more apps available for phones running on Android and iOS. And more apps mean more users and developers.
If you browse around any Windows Phone app market, the apps available are very limited compared to Android's PlayStore or Apple AppStore. These two has millions of apps, both free and paid. This announcement that Windows will run Android apps is met with mixed reactions from fans and users. But some say that this "cross-platform" move is a smart one if done for the purpose of reaching more users, fanbase aside.
Some die-hard Windows Phone fans wonder if this is a sign that the company is losing, or that Microsoft can't keep up with competition. Some are not too happy with this news as majority of Windows users claim to have stuck to the said operating system to stay away from the more mainstream Android.
On the other hand, some are happy about the news as this will allow Microsoft to host Android apps in their phones, giving users more options in the hardware department. Some users admit to using Windows phones because they were not very happy with the stock Android running phones.
But what this news means to app developers is the freedom to be able to develop apps for a wider range of operating systems. This cross-platform app development means a bigger reach for developers and a wider choice for users.
Although not much has been revealed about this development, Microsoft is set to launch Windows 10 for phones within 2-3 years. Until then, we'll just have to watch out for details and new updates.
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