Author: Microsoft Stories

Microsoft has revealed more details about its Windows universal apps and has also talked about how the Windows 10 universal app platform will work. The company has announced its upcoming Build conference will be held from April 29 to May 1. Further universal app platform technical details will be announced at the Build Conference in San Francisco.

In his first interaction with the Indian media since Microsoft bought Nokia’s devices, Stephen Elop, the former Nokia chief executive who is now executive vice president of Microsoft Devices, talks on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona about the device maker’s global strategy, underlining how the hardware-to-operating system strategy will help it claw back into the fast growing smartphone business.

Microsoft has released a dedicated Outlook app to the Google Play store for Android devices 4.1 and above (there is also a similar client for iOS). Outlook is a free email app that helps you get more done from anywhere with one unified view of your email, calendar, contacts, and attachments.

At the XChange Solution Provider event, Patrick Schlight, Senior Director, Channel Development, talked about how Microsoft’s evolving emphasis on cloud-first, mobile-first solutions is creating opportunities for the channel that are far more lucrative than the traditional reseller business model of old. “Microsoft at our heart is a partner company. Our success is based upon your success,” Schlight told the audience.

Microsoft has announced a universal foldable keyboard accessory, which is compatible with Android, iOS and Windows devices. The software giant also revealed that the Windows 10 OS will be reaching all Windows 8.1 devices this year.

In addition to launching the Tab 2 A10, Tab 2 A8 Android tablets, Lenovo also launched the Ideapad Miix 300 tablet at MWC. Running on Windows 8.1, the Ideapad Miix 300 is expected to hit the stores in July and will be priced at around $149 (Rs 10,000).

Microsoft unveiled two new smartphones – Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL – as it aims to strengthen its position in the affordable smart phone segment in India. “The devices come with a one-year personal subscription to Office365, enabling the full Office experience on the Lumia as well as one tablet and one PC/Mac. The subscription also includes one terabyte of storage on OneDrive,” said Stephen Elop, Executive Vice President, Microsoft Devices Group.

Microsoft launched two new smart phones – Lumia 532 and Lumia 435 – in Rajasthan, targeting youths and first jobbers. “Rajasthan is the fastest growing market for smart phones and we expect a huge response from the state,” Ravi Kunwar, Director-North, Nokia India (a subsidiary of Microsoft Mobiles Oy), said at the launch.