Microsoft has a new Switch to Windows Phone app for Android

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Apple isn’t the only one who has an app for switching from Android, Microsoft also has an app that facilitates the switching process from Android to Windows Phone although Microsoft’s switch to Windows Phone app is still a preview version at the moment.

From the description, the app acts a souped up cross platform version of Transfer my Data. It transfers contacts, text messages and media from your Android device to your Windows Phone device either via OneDrive or via virtual Wifi. If you intend to use virtual WiFi method to send files over, you’ll want to have the Windows Phone counterpart on your new Windows Phone in order to receive files.

Here’s the app description:

We are offering you two ways to move your data to Windows Phone:

(1) WiFi: if you’ve already set up your Windows phone. You’ll be able to move your contacts, text messages, photos, videos, and music over directly using virtual Wi-Fi and an app that you install on your new phone.
You do not need any network, real WiFi router or account. But you need to install a Windows Phone app on your Windows Phone. The name of the app is “Switch to Windows Phone”. It’s at https://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/switch-to-windows-phone/3286dd5d-3f98-435a-b80c-3fccba05a867

(2) OneDrive: if you haven’t set up your new phone yet. You’ll create a backup copy of your bookmarks, photos, videos, and apps, which can be downloaded automatically when you set up the new phone.
You need network connection and an Microsoft account.

While this is  a good attempt at lowering barriers to adoption, we’d say it would be more efficient if Microsoft offered a way to backup and restore cross platform apps and services with equivalent Windows Phone apps – whether the exact match, third party apps or even just similar services. Microsoft already has an app that does that right now, integrating it into their migration solution would significantly make the app more useful.

What do you think of Microsoft’s new Windows phone app? Let us know in the comments below.

More about the topics: #switchtolumia, android, app, microsoft, Switch, windows phone