First dual-booting Windows Phone and Android handsets due this year
PC makers are increasingly pushing devices that dual-boot Android and Windows, and it appears that phone manufacturers will follow a similar path in the coming months. Microsoft recently revealed India-based Karbonn Mobiles will start shipping Windows Phones soon, and the company says it plans to create handsets that support both Android and Windows Phone.
The Times of India reports that Karbonn signed a licensing agreement with Microsoft and plans to release handsets with dual-boot Android and Windows Phone in around six months time. It's not clear what benefit dual-booting two separate operating systems brings, but the devices will reportedly target professionals and tech-savvy consumers. Karbonn’s first Windows Phone handsets are expected to arrive ahead of the dual-boot versions. "Microsoft has eased the regulations and is opening up its platform for other players. We signed the agreement two days ago and will launch a range of Windows Phones in about three months," says Karbonn chairman Sudhir Hasija.
Karbonn’s announcement follows rumors that Microsoft had asked HTC to install Windows Phone as a “separate option” on its Android handsets, with plans to reduce or cut license fees as an incentive. Microsoft is currently finalizing its Windows Phone 8.1 update, which includes dual-SIM and on-screen buttons support. The update will also allow phone makers to produce phones with just 4GB of storage, a change designed to increase the volume of Windows Phone handsets. Microsoft is expected to release a developer preview version of Windows Phone 8.1 at the company’s Build conference in early April.
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