Microsoft could allow Windows Phone to support Android apps in the future, according to a new report.
New information suggests that Microsoft is at least considering the possibility of supporting Android apps on Windows Phone and Windows one day.
Speaking to The Verge, “sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans” say Microsoft is talking over the idea of accepting Android apps into the Windows and Windows Phone ecosystems.
The sources say that the discussions are still in the early stages and planning “is ongoing”, but Microsoft is talking about the possibility.
Apparently, Microsoft is discussing whether to simply allow Android apps to appear within the Windows and Windows Phone stores, but some execs suggest it could destroy the platform entirely, especially on mobile.
Android dominates the smartphone market, and iOS tends to be the initial focus for app developers with the Android version launching simultaneously or very shortly afterwards.
Windows Phone neither has the market authority or developer attention and investment that iOS and Android does, so accepting Android apps may well give it a boost.
The latest announcement stated the Windows Phone Store offers 200,000 apps, which is pretty impressive, but it took 18 months for this number to double from 100,000.
It also pales in comparison the 900,000 iOS app milestone Apple announced in June 2013 and the 1 million Android apps that are contained within the Google Play app store, as revealed in July last year.
In late November 2013, Microsoft made the rather bold promise that the Windows Phone Store would be able to rival the iOS and Android app stores by the end of 2014.
Could adding Android apps to the Windows Phone Store be the only way to achieve that goal? Maybe, but we’d be very surprised if Microsoft makes such a bold move anytime soon.
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