The imminent death of Windows 10 Mobile shouldn't come as a surprise to optimistic nor pessimistic Microsoft watchers. Observations from both camps foresaw its demise. Pessimist's concluded that the weight of opposition stacked against Microsoft would ultimately cause the company to abandon Windows 10 Mobile and its mobile ambitions.
Optimists concluded that like its predecessors, Pocket PC, Windows Mobile and Windows Phone, Windows 10 Mobile would be replaced by a successor. Full Windows on ARM or some other form of Windows utilizing CShell are anticipated to succeed Windows 10 Mobile. This would bring the full power of Windows to unique mobile devices and bring OS consistency across all form factors. With hints of an imminent introduction of Andromeda OS, Microsoft's context-conforming Windows OS, the optimist's analysis seems the more accurate of the two.
Still, the death of Windows 10 Mobile, like that of its predecessors, will leave many Windows phone enthusiasts with devices that can't be upgraded. There's no sugarcoating it, that hurts and many fans are mad about it. It's also another mark on an already marred history for Microsoft and mobile. But it's not all bad. The death of Windows 10 Mobile may be a good thing.
Power to the platform
Microsoft's ambitious, Windows-on-all-form-factors plan was finally achieved with OneCore. The problem, however, is that Windows 10 Mobile, the OS designed for small tablets and phones, was never developed completely in sync with Windows 10 proper as the "one Windows" messaging suggested.
Furthermore, though it is indeed Windows, it isn't quite Windows. It doesn't have the full capabilities of a Windows 10 PC such as inking and other features. So though it shares the same core as Windows 10, it's an underpowered counterpart.
With full Windows on ARM, Andromeda OS, on new non-phone mobile hardware (ultramobile PCs perhaps), Microsoft can finally bring the full power of Windows to our pockets. The range of capabilities that will bring to the mobile form factor via Continuum and in handheld mode would conceivably parallel much of larger PCs capabilities while retaining a mobile-friendly UI.
Then there was one… finally.
Windows 10 Mobile's demise also streamlines the Windows "platforms" users must be aware of and that developers must target.
When Microsoft says Windows 10 Mobile is Windows, consumers and some developers might conclude that there are little or no differences between Windows on PC and Windows on phone. Realizing the limits of Windows 10 Mobile compared to Windows could be disheartening to some. The distinction could also be confusing to consumers.
Conversely, users and developers know that iOS and Android are for mobile devices while macOS and Chrome are for desktop environments. When Microsoft says, Window is Windows, but Windows 10 Mobile is not quite Windows the company muddies its own messaging.
Full Windows on all PC form factors including ARM-based ultramobile PCs clarifies the messaging. Windows will finally simply be Windows on all form factors with Windows 10 Mobile and smartphones out of the picture
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