The Sams Report EP 59: Should Microsoft Build An Android Flagship

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The Sams Report is a weekly podcast that dives deep into the world of Microsoft. With the company transforming the way it operates and Nadella putting his own touch on all aspects of the organization, the Sams Report breaks down the news and offers insight from insider sources.

On this episode, I cover all of the Microsoft news this week including the fixing broken updates, Band hitting the end of the road, Google announced a few things and should Microsoft build a proper Android phone.

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Conversation 14 comments

  • 5394

    07 October, 2016 - 9:28 am

    <p>No.</p>
    <p>1. Are the willing to lose another few billion dollars?</p>
    <p>2. Many Android phones are already pretty decent.</p>
    <p>3. Microsoft isn’t capable of providing the ecosystem to make it a success. It will have to appropriate Google Play so it’s just be another common Android phone.</p>
    <p>4. It will undercut Windows Phone and it’s future ambitions with Cortana.</p>
    <p>5. They are likely to cut short the experiment anyways after the 2nd year. Looking at you Microsoft Band.</p>
    <p>6. No matter how much the success or failure. They will go back to Windows regardless.</p>
    <p>7. Windows Windows Window</p>
    <p>8. Windows</p>

    • 1377

      Premium Member
      07 October, 2016 - 1:06 pm

      <p><em><a href="#19405">In reply to glenn8878:</a></em></p>
      <p>Windows, Windows, Windows!<br /><br />Windows on PC — check.</p>
      <p>Windows on servers — check.</p>
      <p>Windows on Xbox — well, OK.</p>
      <p>Windows on anything else, not so much.</p>

  • 345

    Premium Member
    07 October, 2016 - 9:37 am

    <p>Hi Brad, thank you for the poscast, particularly the subject regarding whether or not MS should biuld an Android phone.</p>
    <p>The ability of the much lauded Surface phone to run a forked MS-centric version of andoid plus minus being able to dual boot into Windows Mobile would give&nbsp;consumers as well as enterprise customers the flexibility to leverage not only the application availability and relative ubiquity of Android with the features of WinMo, particularly continuum, while not completely abadoning or surrendering their previous mobile offerings. Also, another question would be if MS could round out their Android application offerings to include apps like Photos, Feedback, and Maps to further retain customers in their ecosystem. Multiboot solutions currently exist for Android and although I am not an expert on what kind of functionality or security implications their use might imply, I would love to see such utility exist that would acquiesce with the current realities of the modile OS share while still supporting and showing consideration for the great OS that is Windows Mobile.</p>
    <p>I think that in combination with the quality of MS hardware, the value MS can offer in terms of software and services, as well as keeping up to date with current specs, and selling the device at an affordable price (key) could represent a viable way to reassert themselves in mobile.&nbsp;</p>
    <p>Thanks again Brad, have a good weekend.&nbsp;</p>

  • 217

    07 October, 2016 - 9:39 am

    <p>I don’t think they should, what would it prove?</p>
    <ol>
    <li>Great hardware? Sure.&nbsp;</li>
    <li>Great bundled apps? Okay</li>
    <li>What does Microsoft get out of it? Not sure, data maybe. They likely won’t sell many</li>
    </ol>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>
    <p>Because they’re a primarily a platform company, it will confuse consumers?</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>
    <p>Customer: "Oh, is this a new Windows phone?"</p>
    <p>Rep: "No, it’s an Android phone from Microsoft?"</p>
    <p>Customer: "Shut yo mouth!"</p>

  • 127

    Premium Member
    07 October, 2016 - 9:46 am

    <p>I would buy one. No questions asked.</p>

  • 6220

    07 October, 2016 - 10:30 am

    <p>Yes they should&mdash;but they won’t.</p>

    • 6220

      07 October, 2016 - 11:00 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#19423">In reply to Rodness:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Also, weren’t you <em>surprised</em> when Microsoft brought out the Surface, then when they announced the Surface Book? Even if you heard about the leaks, it was a surprise. Making an Android phone makes sense in that they have an Android ecosytem right now as we speak with all their Office products&mdash;and don’t forget about their Garage products, either. None of those are the waste of time you seem to be implying. I don’t know, but I’d buy one over the expensive new Pixel phone (though I love the specs of it), especially if it weren’t an exclusive sale.</p>

    • 6152

      11 October, 2016 - 4:52 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#19423">In reply to Rodness:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>No they shouldn’t.</p>
      <p>There are already enough Android flagships &amp; Microsoft doesn’t have the factory anymore.</p>
      <p>Instead, it probably should partner with top names to produce ‘Microsoft enhanced’ Android phones where it services are by default.</p>
      <p>Also, now that it abandoned the consumer phone market, why not offer a VM / Android (even limited) compatibility for Windows 10 Mobile, or at least the high end models with enough RAM.</p>

  • 1377

    Premium Member
    07 October, 2016 - 1:02 pm

    <p>Picky: MSFT making and slling an Android phone wouldn’t necessarily mean <em>MSFT</em> had no future in mobile, rather that Windows had no future in mobile. MSFT still has a potentially bright future making and monetizing mobile apps and services. Just no OS licensing revenue stream.</p>

  • 1792

    07 October, 2016 - 5:50 pm

    <p>A better question over phone is should Microsoft provide a version of Android update existing Windowsphones to Android?</p>
    <p>The scenario would be that customers of Lumia could just turn their existing hardware to Android. A Lumia 1020 running Android with a 41mp camera maybe??</p>

  • 5510

    08 October, 2016 - 12:09 am

    <p>Brad, why do you say that Google&nbsp;"sort of" &nbsp;have complete control of the phone, without dishing out an explanation? If it’s because of the HTC connection, than it would be safe to say the Apple doesn’t have complete control of their phone either because Foxconn makes their phone. Second, it’s not really exclusive to Verizon. The phone can be bought through Google, unlocked. Where you can then activate on other carriers. Third, Google was faced with the issue about manufacturing their own phones, when they bought Motorola.</p>
    <p>Brad, in this video you were talking about how great the Chromecast was for simple streaming. Simple streaming? As opposed to what…complex streaming? I remember the time you went on Windows Weekly to dish out breaking news about Microsoft possibly releasing a Chromecast like device, then you said it was $200. &nbsp;Was that complex streaming?&nbsp;</p>
    <p>Should MSFT build an Android flagship? If they want to, go ahead. If they do so, they can install Cortana as their main assistant.&nbsp;If Microsoft does this, they have to follow the way of Samsung and no one else. Samsung is the most successful Android partner and for good reason.&nbsp;</p>

  • 5486

    09 October, 2016 - 10:58 am

    <p>I think the Band would fit quite well into the Surface line of products – both are plagued with build/software quality issues that MS don’t/can’t seem to be bothered to fix. Premium priced/premium problems. You get what you pay for with Microsoft.</p>

  • 538

    10 October, 2016 - 6:21 am

    <p>&nbsp;Interesting as always, cheers Brad. I think like many here I use an Android phone but am still firmly in the Microsoft ecosystem – I’ve got Outlook, Grove, OneDrive, OneNote, Wunderlist etc on my homescreen and they’re all great. This approach to providing services to the platform, rather than forking it, seems like it will be more likely. Of course that is leaving them at the mercy of Google, as it is possible they will try to lock down the platform at some point in the future.&nbsp;</p>

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