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Microsoft has announced it plans to offer the Windows 10 operating system on Android smartphones.
The move will initially be part of the company’s Windows Insider Program, and will see Windows 10 ROMs made available to download on Android devices.
Microsoft is currently working with China’s Xiaomi to test the project by offering native-style Windows 10 ROMs for the Xiaomi Mi4 smartphone.
Mi4 users will be able to download the Windows 10 software completely for free, and then flash it to the device.
The core reasoning behind this is that Microsoft will be able to get direct feedback from Android users on what they like and dislike about Windows 10.
While it might seem odd that the US-based company would opt to roll out its trial in China, there’s a good reason why Microsoft looked east.
Chinese users are traditionally very open to customising their smartphones, particularly in terms of software.
That’s not the case in the US, where the majority of users tend to never tinker with their device’s operating systems.
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Microsoft’s line, as reported by TechCrunch, read as follows: “Xiaomi is a leading phone manufacturer in China undergoing significant global expansion.”
“We are excited to partner with them in China and jointly gather feedback from Chinese users on their experience with Windows 10 to jointly collaborate on product and services development for the platform.”
The ROM’s full availability will be announced in the coming months.
Windows 10, meanwhile, is due to land in summer, unifying various Microsoft platforms like Windows Phone, Windows for desktop, and Xbox into one ecosystem.