Microsoft recently announced that Lenovo will build Windows 10 smartphone for China. This is the first time that Microsoft is looking towards Chinese manufacturers to use its operating system in their phones. The devices will be available through the telecom carrier China Mobile from the middle of this year.
This deal will come as a major relief to Microsoft which produces most of the current Windows handsets following the acquisition of Nokia. The Lenovo deal follows the announcement by Huawei that it will no longer be making Windows Smartphones.
An even more interesting announcement was Microsoft’s joint project with Xiaomi to bring out Windows 10 to the present Xiaomi phones. Xiaomi is the largest seller of smartphones in mainland China, according to some analysts reports, and one of the fastest growing smartphone manufacturers. Xiaomi is also gaining popularity in India and proving to be a big player in the Indian smartphone market.
According to a blog post by Microsoft, it is now working with Xiaomi to allow some specific user communities to flash their Xiaomi Mi4 devices converting it into a Windows 10 smartphone. This will be the first instance when a company will allow existing userbase to flash their devices and use a completely different operating system. The Mi4 currently works on Google’s Android OS.
Microsoft has also tied up with Chinese companies like Lenovo, Tencent (WeChat) and Qihou to offer free upgrade assistance to their registered users to Windows 10 tablet and desktop platform. In addition, Tencent will also be building a universal messaging app for the Windows 10 platform.
The recent announcements signal a shift from Microsoft’s earlier strategy to focus on the European and American markets. Currently, Microsoft has just 0.8 percent share in the Chinese smartphone market. It remains to be seen if the move will pay off for Microsoft and Windows Phone.
