According to a report from Windows Central, Microsoft has reorganized some internal teams, and departments, with the goal of better focusing on Android right alongside Windows. The re-org involves the creation of one Android organization within Microsoft known as Android Microsoft Platform and Experiences (AMPX).
News of the re-org first hit Microsoft employees this week, via an internal memo sent out by Panos Panay. There are no layoffs expected with the re-org, but rather just some tossing around of positions so Microsoft’s various Android programs can fall under one organization. With it, the teams that run the Surface Duo OS, SwiftKey, Phone Link, Microsoft Launcher all fall under the new Android Microsoft Platform and Experiences. That means that Shilpa Ranganathan now has a lead role in the Windows PM org. Ali Akgun is also said to be leading the new Android Microsoft Platform and Experiences group.
As for what it means for consumers, Windows Central’s sources believes that Microsoft has “big ideas in mind for Android and Windows over the next handful of years.” That means making Android and Windows feel more like what you get with iOS and MacOS.
“Microsoft wants to position Android smartphones as an extension to Windows PCs, with the goal of creating interoperable experiences,” said Bowden.
Microsoft already announced that it was rebranding Your Phone as Phone Link, as a way to better bring Android and Windows closer together. This re-org could push this beyond that, and along with what we’ve already seen with the Windows Subsystem for Android, things can only get more exciting moving into the future.
