Microsoft Partners With 20 More Vendors To Pre-Install Apps On Android Tablets
by Brandon Chester on May 26, 2015 5:22 PM EST
Today Microsoft announced partnerships with 20 device manufacturers to pre-install apps such as Office, OneDrive, and Skype on future Android tablets. Microsoft already has existing deals in place with companies like Dell, Samsung, and Pegatron, and we've seen the results of those agreements on devices like the Venue 8 7840 and the Galaxy S6. Today's announcement focuses more on tablets, which is a natural area of focus for Microsoft as their suite of Office applications are made for Android tablets.
Microsoft's list of partnered companies mostly consists of regional manufacturers that serve a specific country. However, both LG and Sony appear on the list, which means that Microsoft's apps will be shipping on future devices to countries all over the world. The press release specifically states that Sony's Xperia Z4 tablet will begin shipping with the apps within 90 days, and states that a future tablet from LG will include them as well.
Microsoft's partnerships represent a new direction for a company that once used their suite of Office apps as a way to lead users to Windows devices. You can view the entire list of new partner companies in the source below.
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jjj - Tuesday, May 26, 2015 - link
This is such a misguided initiative. Nobody serious has gained anything by selling bloat.With Office they had a monopoly and most needed it anyway but here they'll annoy people that don't want their apps and will harm their image further.
Make products worth using and folks will use them . Sure M$ has a damaged image and lacks trust but they won't gain that like this.
Likely leveraging their patents to force device makers into such deals won't make them look better either.
Seems like same old M$ to me, maybe a different day but same mentality.
lorribot - Tuesday, May 26, 2015 - link
If they are giving away full copies of the apps rather than 60 day trials then it is not bloat, but the article is not clear what the deal is other than pre-install, which is shame and an example of how you can use so many words to convey no useful information.close - Wednesday, May 27, 2015 - link
I don't see them giving you a demo version of OneDrive. This is something like Google Apps. They're free but Google must license them to the vendors.Michael Bay - Thursday, May 28, 2015 - link
Office and/or Skype are the applications that most would WANT to be preinstalled, and it won`t damage Microsoft image in the slightest if all of five people who don`t need them just uninstall.0ldman79 - Friday, May 29, 2015 - link
If they let you uninstall.I'm not a fan of this garbage installed on my phone that I don't want. I've had two phones that I had to root to uninstall Facebook. Why?
Michael Bay - Friday, May 29, 2015 - link
Because you`re using Android, silly.zepi - Saturday, May 30, 2015 - link
It's not better on iOS side for that matter. There are plenty of apple-apps that people would gladly uninstall if it was possible. Some services as well...piiman - Saturday, May 30, 2015 - link
" Sure M$ has a damaged image and lacks trust but they won't gain that like this."Really? or are you speaking for yourself only here?
"Seems like same old M$ to me, maybe a different day but same mentality."
When did they ever say they were going to change for you?
pzkfwg - Tuesday, May 26, 2015 - link
MS Office for Android are free apps. They are not full featured though, compared to the desktop version. You also gain more features automatically when subscribed to certain Office 365 plans.Alexvrb - Tuesday, May 26, 2015 - link
It's still really nice to have, for free.