Xiaomi and Microsoft have made a deal amongst themselves, with Xiaomi agreeing to have their handsets pre-installed with Microsoft apps, in a lucrative exchange of 1,500 patents to the Chinese manufacturers.
While this move isn’t particularly new on Microsoft’s side, and while this seems like a win-win situation for both companies, it is clear that Microsoft will be riding on Xiaomi’s reputation in China and other Asian markets. Microsoft did not specify any finances involved with this deal, but we do know that Xiaomi’s mobile devices, namely phones and tablets will be shipped with Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and Skype from September this year onwards. Among the Xiaomi handsets mentioned are the flagship Mi 5, Mi Max, Mi 4s, Redmi Note 3 and Redmi 3. A Windows 10 version of the Mi Pad was previously launched, so we might be looking at Mi Pad’s being shipped entirely with Microsoft’s OS instead of Android in the future.
Microsoft was aware of its failing handset department, leading to the company’s exit from the industry, along with some job cuts, shifting its focus to other areas. Fortunately, Microsoft is still pretty much alive in the apps division, bringing its own software across popular platforms like Android and iOS, hence the Xiaomi-Microsoft deal will most probably turn out to be a wise one for the future. What do you think about this newly forged partnership?
Source: Microsoft