Windows Phone or rather now Windows 10 Mobile‘s fate has been a subject of endless and intense discussions amongst fans, bloggers, Tech Media and others. Slowly the future of Windows 10 Mobile and where it fits into Microsoft’s overall Windows 10 strategy is getting clearer. For now, if what some top executives including the CEO Satya Nadella has revealed or hinted in bits and pieces can be put together, we can conclude that Microsoft is perhaps in for a long haul in Windows 10’s Mobile part. But it may be slow and steady walk rather than run to that far-standing goal.
First Terry Myerson had confirmed that Windows Phone is not the focus in 2016 but still remains an important part in Microsoft’s overall scheme of things. That has been confirmed by other executives too but Myerson being the Windows’ chief, it certainly tells us that Microsoft is still planning for Windows 10 Mobile in 2017 and beyond.
Satya Nadella has also talked about Continuum being able to carve a new category of “Continuum Phones with ability to work like a PC”, 3 years down the line. Three years is a really long time and there can be many strategical maneuvering during that period but that at least tells you how Microsoft is bracing itself for the long haul.
What it eventually means is perhaps we may not see lots of devices launches or huge marketing push around Windows 10 Mobile in this year but there will be continuity in Windows 10 Mobile getting slow and steady evolution with a focus on productivity features like continuum.
Coming to what we can expect in 2016, we exclusively reported that Microsoft is also preparing a Snapdragon 820 running Flagship with enhanced Continuum, which may come out later this year. We exclusively reported its specs and it was also seen on GFXBench later. We have also reported more about “Enhanced Continnum” packing many new features and capabilities. Some of upcoming new features like using Win32 apps while in Continuum mode may become truly smartphone productivity defining features.
