Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Talks About The Future Of Windows On Mobile Devices

In an interview to Business Insider, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was asked why there was not a whole lot of talk around Microsoft’s mobile platform Windows 10 Mobile at Build developer conference last week. Satya said that they don’t think of Windows for mobile differently than Windows for HoloLens, or Windows for Xbox now. They have only one Windows and don’t have multiple Windows.

“They run across multiple form factors, but it’s one developer platform, one store, one tool chain for developers. And you adapt it for different screen sizes and different input and output” 

When Matt asked what does Microsoft get by continuing to have and develop a mobile platform, Satya gave the following reply.

I’m not trying to be another phone guy with the other person’s rules. What is unique about our phones is this Continuum feature. If anything we will want to continue to build that capability out.

Just like how with Surface we were able to create a category. Three years ago most people would have said “what is a two-in-one”? And now even Apple has a two-in-one. And so three years from now, I hope that people will look and say, “oh wow, that’s right, this is a phone that can also be a PC.”

Take emerging markets. India for sure is a mobile-first country. But I don’t think it will be a mobile-only country for all time. An emerging market will have more computing in their lives, not less computing, as there is more GDP and there is more need. As they grow they will also want computers that grow from their phone. What’s the most logical thing? I would claim it’s a Continuum phone, which means that it can have other forms of input beyond touch.

Yes, Continuum is a unique feature for Windows 10 Mobile as Satya said and I think Apple and Google will replicate on their platforms in the next couple of year. It will surely attract enterprise customers, but I don’t think it is enough for an average consumer to switch from an Android or an Apple device. What do you think?

Read the whole interview here.