Microsoft "seriously considering" Android on Windows
It would appear that Microsoft is either unaware of the existence of BlueStacks, or they've decided it might be time to take the technology mainstream. In a chat with the Verge, an anonymous source has suggested that Microsoft is "seriously considering allowing Android apps to run on both Windows and Windows Phone." Allowing these apps to run, as it's said there, would allow both platforms access to thousands of apps never before available to them in the past.
It's also suggested by this same source that "some" inside Microsoft favor the idea while opposition suggests it "could lead to the death of the Windows platform altogether." If developers had only to develop for Android to see their apps on Windows and Windows Phone as well, what reason would there be for developing for either of those platforms independently?
We've seen quite a few concepts over the past couple of years in the Android-on-Windows circuit, the easiest-to-use of these being BlueStacks – as you'll see above. Here we've simply installed the BlueStacks interface on a massive Lenovo IdeaCentre Horizon PC and are allowed to play essentially any Android app straight from Google Play.
Microsoft's initiative, therefor, will be more about a public push than a real developer project. There aren't very many steps that need to be taken between Microsoft wanting Android apps on their devices and Microsoft having Android apps of their devices.
It'd be no stranger to think of this than to think of new Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella selling off the Xbox division of the company, as he's been considered to to – analysts suggest he's considered it, that is, he's not said as much.
The first step may be the Nokia Android handset, and we'll more than likely be seeing that machine sooner than later. Keep your eyes to the Mobile World Congress 2014 tag portal and we'll see you there!