Android News
Microsoft is bringing Windows Live to Android (and I don’t know why)
July 21, 2011 | by Tony Price
Android, Android News
According to a post on the Windows Team Blog, Microsoft has given developers the tools for Windows Live integration across all major mobile platforms, including our beloved Android. The team in Redmond is giving you a use for that Hotmail account you made in the 90s, and they are bringing Messenger and SkyDrive along with it.
While Microsoft promises that the tools are easy to use, and that the integration should be seemless for consumers. You will apperntly only have to sign in once, and then you will have access to your Live account across all third-party apps. They are giving developers sample code and easy instructions.
I understand whats happening, but i have one question. Why on earth would we want this? I intentionally moved away from the Windows Live platform, specifically messenger, around 2001. I got a Gmail account as soon as I could. Since then, I have moved away from Windows all together, using Android, iOS, and Mac OS X as my platforms of choice.
Seriously, I don’t understand why anyone could have thought this was a good idea. I understand the desire for Microsoft to bring this to Windows Phone 7, but the idea of them contaiminating Android and iOS with it baffles me.
If you can seriously think of a good reason for this unholy union to happen, leave a comment below. Maybe I am just missing something, or not seeing the potential like I should. This is one of those rare moments when I am completly baffled.
Update: I understand Microsoft’s position. They stand to benefit in the areas of user retention. It could also be a good financial move. The prospect of gaining more users for their products is obviously a driving force. I apologize for not stating this more clearly in my article. However, I was writing my opinions as a user, not as an analyst. In the future, I will strive to better convey my view point on topics like this.
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Wouldn't mind decent Xbox live integration. Perhaps even some games?
Not in this package, but it may mean that they are willing to do something like that.
Yeah, that's really the only reason I would have been interested, as well… but if it's not included on this package, then there's not really anything I can think of that makes this an interesting announcement.
I'm very much looking forward to seeing SkyDrive on my Android device! I can finally say goodbye to the measly 2 GB of free space provided by dropbox, and say hello to the 25GB of free space that SkyDrive lets me have!
This does make some sense in Microsoft's part. Android is a growing platform, and having Windows Live integration would make it easier for Microsoft to coerce hardware manufacturers to include Microsoft apps on the phone by default. Imagine, buying a phone and having no Google services on it, just Microsoft services. It's possible since Android is an open-source platform.
Microsoft is trying to expand the reach of Live. Which for the users is a good thing. Though many people have moved away from Hotmail and live, they still have more users then Gmail. Skydrive has 25gig of storage, if 3rd party apps makes it accessible then it could be a good alternative to Drop-box or Sugar sync or any of the other cloud storage solutions out there.
Since you all gave steve ballmer $5-15 USD EVERY TIME you buy an android device, Microsoft is throwing you back some scraps. Don't complain….it's free……like you mobile OS……sorta.
Tony, really? You can't see why MS is doing this? Ouh boy. If you'd have a product, or more, wouldn't you want it to be accesibble everywhere? Yes, we use Android, but some of us are on Windows and are using SkyDrive or MSN or even Hotmail, so for MS this is just a new platform they can dig in to. There are hundrends who wanted to use SkyDrive but said "It's not available on Android", well now it is, and those will advertise it to their friends, and so on, new users, new people using MS products, new revenue, it's profit Sir, profit. It is so hard to see this?
I didn't say I couldn't see why Microsoft would do this, I said I don't see why I would want it. Or other Android owners.
would you ban gmail from windows phone? or even windows pc? no, you would not. because switching phones or computers shouldn't mean switching email provider.
Maybe it's also a non-US thing. Messenger is still hugely popular in Brazil, for instance.
Maybe Zune integration? That would be awesome.
Really? You come off a little snobby here… not surprised to hear you use IOS. I for one use multiple emailaccounts, including hotmail; and am quite pleased Microsoft is releasing a native app. Love Skydrive as well.
I just acquired my first Android based cell phone and find integration a compelling reason to move to Google based apps. I was completely Windows based before the Android so I can see user retention being another part of the mix.
Some people still use MS products such as Hotmail, messenger, and Skydrive. It makes for MS to want to expand their usage base as much as they can. I think it's smart of MS to do this. Besides, having more users using Android is a good thing isn't it? Android and its users tout itself as being open and free so why not let MS product users enjoy Android as well.
Office Web Apps and live Writer are also great. SharePoint access from Android could also be a future target.
You can use any email address to register a windows live account
Yeah…sounds like you got some Apple snobbery on your android phone. I for one definitely like the idea of Skydrive access and Xbox integration, and especially some Zune love. Wait – if iOS and Mac whatever are your "platforms of choice," why are you writing for Androinica?
Because I use, and love, an Android phone. I just choose to write on a Mac.
Tony, You are an Apple drone so how would you know the advantages of anything outside of that cloud of smoke and mirrors? Since 2001…really? Why are you even writing here?
The world doesn't stop at your front door…. Windows Live Messenger still is very popular in Europe and South America for example.
I am happy that there is another thing that my android device can do. I am not sure why you would use the word contamination as Microsoft is much closer the Android philosophy than that crApple stuff you use. I personally don't understand someone who uses and loves Android yet still puts up with the "You Do It Our Way and Be Darn Well Happy About It" philosophy of Apple.
Despite the author's prejudices against Microsoft, the Live suit of applications are actually quite decent. It may have taken a ton of iterations to get here, but Hotmail is quite clean and fast, Live Mail is much better than Apple Mail, the Bing way of searching for images is actually more efficient/faster than the Google way(shock!), Live Writer is a boon for all the blogsters out there, etc etc.. And Skydrive does work. And let's not forget: MSN/Live Messenger is still very very popular. And popularity is what makes or breaks an IM protocol. It's more popular than Googletalk (which I prefer) where I live. So what's not to like? It's all about choice. Microsoft's offerings are quite competitive. Use them or don't use them, it's very nice to have them around.
Three of five paragraphs in this story are your weird questioning of why anyone would want anything Microsoft. How very lame. If Apple had a better overall package, they would be more competitive in the computer market. Whatever your preferences, that is poor form — try summing your opinions up in one pithy statement like a pro, please. In any case, IMO, Hotmail's interface is marginally better than Gmail's, And the most interesting aspect of the story is Microsoft embracing Android — the consumer winning as the software suppliers choose to offer their products over competitor's OS's — you should not have let that slip under your upturned nose [note the use of a pun to convey criticism].
As an Android user who chooses Live over Gmail, this is a great service to offer in my books. The author obviously has a lot of disdain for Microsoft. BTW, Windows 7 owns OSX for usability. If I want a pretty OS that isn't vulnerable to viruses, I'll use (and recommend) Ubuntu.
I have an android phone and my work email is windows live.
This is a great news for all android users. I really like the post. Worth reading it.
I am not fond of I-anything. I am ready to use skydrive on my Android