Windows 10 Mobile: a Surface Phone and Continuum Could Be Keys to Microsoft’s Windows 10 Mobile Plans

Windows 10 Mobile, Surface Phone — Once upon a time Microsoft was king of the hill. The company held more than 95 percent of the operating system market worldwide. Today things have changed. Microsoft is now the underdog. Windows – the company's flagship operating system – is no longer synonymous to computing. The advent of mobile took Microsoft by surprise and a lack of timely response left the software giant playing catch-up to rivals like Apple and Google.

The release of Windows 10 was crucial to Microsoft. Not only that the company must regain the trust of Windows users after the debacle of Windows 8, it also needs to sculpt a place for itself in the mobile market.

To achieve these goals, Microsoft has taken two steps. First, the company brought back with Windows 10 the features that were arbitrarily taken off Windows 8 such as the Start Menu. Second, it merged its multiple platforms under a single umbrella, meaning one operating system behaving differently depending on the use.

Thus was born Windows 10 Mobile. As the name indicates, Windows 10 Mobile is the mobile flavor of Windows 10. It runs on the same kernel as its bigger brother and is able to run apps built for both platforms, known as Universal apps.

For Windows 10 to take off. Microsoft needs to prove itself to be a worthy contender. Not only that the company needs to work on its public perception, it also needs to break the growing duopoly held by its two biggest rivals. Apple's iOS and Google's Android totally dominate the market. For Microsoft to attract skeptics, it needs to provide a reason to make the switch.

That reason will come in two forms, of course. Software and Hardware. On the software side, Windows 10 Mobile is actually a very compelling reason to switch. It comes with features that are totally absent on other platforms. In some cases, one could argue that it is even more advanced than iOS and Android. Especially when it comes to power-use r functionalities.

Among such functionalities is a feature called Continuum. The latter comes with different aspects. First on the desktop, it lets a user switch easily between a desktop mode and a tablet mode. On the phone, Continuum, as demonstrated by Microsoft, lets a user use his or her phone as a traditional desktop computer. When connected to a larger display, the Windows 10 Mobile operating system will scale up and acts much like its desktop counterpart. The apps – the universal ones – will also adapt to the different display sizes, providing a desktop-like experience via the power of the phone.

Of course, Continuum by itself will not save Microsoft's mobile strategy. Though, it will surely be attractive to professional users, for the common Joe on the street, it may not be nothing more than a gimmicky feature that is nice to have among others. For the platform to truly pick up, Microsoft needs to attract developers in order to strengthen its ecosystem. For years, many apps used by millions have been missing on the platform making it hard for people on iOS or Android to even consider buying a Windows Phone.

On the hardware side, Microsoft needs to show that it can rival the build quality found in devices such as the iPhone and the Galaxy S6. The company – with its Surface Pro – has proved that it can indeed build a very attractive and functional device. Perhaps, it just needs to apply the same savoir-faire to its phone division. The Lumia 950 XL and the Lumia 950 are both very good devices. Equipped with Windows 10 Mobile, they provide some exclusive features. But, truth be told, they lack the wow factor of the iPhone or the Galaxy.

Having a polycarbonate body, they look and feel less premium than their rivals. Though, there may be a reason for the non-metal body – like wireless charging, etc – one can't deny that nowadays for a phone to really be considered premium it has to be built with metal. In fact, Apple h as been able to become so successful by creating a phone that establishes itself as a piece of luxury rather than just a gadget to make a phone call.

For Microsoft, the Lumia 950 XL and Lumia 950 aren't enough. The company needs a phone that differentiate, a design to wow, a gadget to feel love for. Perhaps, a Surface Phone. With the Built quality of the Surface Pro 4, powered by Windows 10 Mobile.

For now, Windows 10 Mobile is a good step in the right direction. As it continues to improve, it will surely become more attractive to non-Windows fans. But for Microsoft to succeed, more remains to be done.

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Source: Windows 10 Mobile: a Surface Phone and Continuum Could Be Keys to Microsoft's Windows 10 Mobile Plans