BUSINESS BRIEFING Steve Ballmer to Microsoft: Windows Phones Should Run

Microsoft has just launched a new Windows 10 Mobile preview build for users enrolled in the Windows Insider program, and as we told you yesterday, the version number of this new release is 10586.29. This year, Nadella and his team have made some interesting acquisitions and strategy decisions that are starting to go beyond plans already in the pipeline.

Microsoft has confirmed that they will provide support to Windows 10 Mobile till the end of 2017 for all the users. He added Windows 10 “should run Android apps” if Microsoft is to close the app gap between the operating system and established app-centric rivals Android and iOS. In Ballmer’s view, as reported by Bloomberg during the annual shareholder meeting this week, universal apps “won’t work” and instead the company needs to enable Windows Phones “to run Android apps”.

Nadella also stated that while the company has had “different efforts in the past”, these efforts did not have the broad appeal and influence that Universal apps do. No. But you might argue that Windows phone is at least outperforming the “others” smart phone category, which includes Blackberry, and not that the word “Blackberry” doesn’t even appear once in IDC’s report. Ballmer is apparently also not impressed with the recent tweak in Microsoft’s financial reporting structure. He is trying to make up reasons why buying Nokia was OK.

Under his leadership, the company has begun innovating again, seeking out new challenges, including offering a multi-platform operating system, getting involved in virtual reality, and manufacturing its very first in-house laptop. We could get an official update soon, as 150 million users may be judged by Redmond spin doctors to be a figure worth publicising.

On the other hand, GSM Arena says the tech giant will rollout the first set of Windows 10 Mobile update to eligible Lumia handsets from December 14 onwards.

You can’t expect to change Onedrive and take away from your userbases 15-25gig of storage and then expect growth in that business.

One of Ballmer’s biggest regrets was his lack of focus on Windows mobile.