Microsoft/HTC in talks to put WP on Androiddevices

[Midwayman]

I'd love to try WP, but no way in hell am I buying a phone just to try it. If I could run WP on top of a good android phone, it might be enough to sway me next purchase.

 

[dougp]

I like WP - I had a Quantum at launch. Unfortunately, it's not a platform that I consider mature - but I still like it, and the ability to try it out instead of buying a new phone would be great.

I'm surprised that no one seems this as a win/win.

 

[Red Storm]

I'm surprised that no one seems this as a win/win.

Depends entirely on how they implement it.

 

[EvilYoda]

Disregarding how smooth/fast WP can be, I always thought that they were dealing with last-gen technology. If I had the ability to buy an HTC One with WP8, I would seriously consider it...

If Google supported WP8.

 

[thedosbox]

Depends entirely on how they implement it.

Yep. Give people the option of trying out the other OS - or removing it if they want to free up the storage.

I'm not holding my breath that this is going to happen though.

 

[dougp]

This is a win/win for Microsoft/HTC as long as it's implemented and supported.

The HD2 was probably one of the best phones ever made - if they can turn the One into that, it'd be amazing.

 

[Crono]

I've been saying for a while that HTC and Windows Phone are a good match. I don't know if this confirms that the HTC "Harmony" is a reality or whether that was already planned before them being approached by Microsoft.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2342252

 

[dontl00katme]

But to whom and how are you going to pitch these devices?

 

[Deeko]

But to whom and how are you going to pitch these devices?

The intent, as I see it, is for HTC to develop phones that they can load either Android or Windows Phone. I'm sure the development community will figure out how to load one or the other, but the real win here is that with minimal effort HTC can release hardware that will appeal to both Android and WP users. Sure, the latter is a smaller camp, but if they can do it with minimal effort, why not? Better than designing a whole separate phone like the 8x that's actually well-engineered and then have it not sell.

 

[zokudu]

I'm reading this more as Microsoft wants to work with HTC to make sure their OS can work on devices they're already producing for Android. MS worked with Nokia in a similar manner for the 1020 and the 1520 that is supposed to be coming out. Adjusting the OS to make sure it fit Nokias vision or in this case making it easier for HTC to release Windows Phone hardware without having a develop a whole new handset.

 

[dontl00katme]

The intent, as I see it, is for HTC to develop phones that they can load either Android or Windows Phone. I'm sure the development community will figure out how to load one or the other, but the real win here is that with minimal effort HTC can release hardware that will appeal to both Android and WP users. Sure, the latter is a smaller camp, but if they can do it with minimal effort, why not? Better than designing a whole separate phone like the 8x that's actually well-engineered and then have it not sell.

I thought HTC already had a couple of devices running Android or WP on the same hardware (or pretty much the same) but under different model names.

 

[Crono]

I thought HTC already had a couple of devices running Android or WP on the same hardware (or pretty much the same) but under different model names.

It has been a year since the last new HTC Windows Phone handsets (8X and 8S), not counting the 8XT, and I don't think those were based on any Android phones, unlike Samsung's ATIV S which was basically a Galaxy S3 in terms of hardware.

Microsoft wants to woo HTC back so they are trying to make it easier for them with a lower or no licensing fee for WP8 and suggesting that they can just use existing Android handsets and put Windows Phone 8 on them. I'm betting they would start with the One and its variants if they agree, considering the earlier report about the "Harmony". Windows Phone and Android use the same hardware (though Windows Phone has typically been behind Android), so it's not a far-flung proposition.

It really wouldn't hurt HTC to put more than a toe in the water next generation considering how badly they are losing to Samsung in Android sales. And that's with competitive hardware like the One, which beat the S4 to launch but still was destroyed in sales figures.

 

[Ravynmagi]

What's funny is while Microsoft is trying to work with HTC to put Windows on Android phones, Nokia is trying to get HTC Android phones banned for a patent violation. Haha.

 

[Crono]

What's funny is while Microsoft is trying to work with HTC to put Windows on Android phones, Nokia is trying to get HTC Android phones banned for a patent violation. Haha.

That's going to be awkward when Nokia is fully absorbed by Microsoft.

 

[Deeko]

I thought HTC already had a couple of devices running Android or WP on the same hardware (or pretty much the same) but under different model names.

Older models. The HD7 is basically the HD2, the trophy was a lot like the Droid Incredible or Nexus One, but last years 8x was unique for WP compared to the One X.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

Sort of makes sense for HTC.

MSFT is already getting a sizeable licensing cut for every Android device they put out.

 

[lothar]

I'm surprised that no one seems this as a win/win.

Because it's not.
The only person that benefits from this is Microsoft.

 

[lothar]

What's funny is while Microsoft is trying to work with HTC to put Windows on Android phones, Nokia is trying to get HTC Android phones banned for a patent violation. Haha.

It's all a part of the plan to put pressure on HTC to accept this agreement.
It's a bit like Iranian sanctions...The US can't convince Iran to give up nuclear weapons alone, so it gets the EU to apply sanctions as well which together will cripple the Iranian economy and is more likely to force their hand into an agreement if the US were to act alone.

The question is will HTC rollover and accept this desperate Microsoft dual-boot move that does little to nothing to benefit them in any way, or will they ignore it?