Microsoft reorganizes to double down on its Android and Windows efforts

Panos Panay, Chief Product Officer (CPO) at Microsoft, announced in a memo the software giant is moving its Surface Duo OS, Microsoft Launcher, Swiftkey, Phone Link, and a handful of other Android teams under a dedicated Android org named Android Microsoft Platform and Experiences (APMX).

Earlier, much of Microsoft’s Android’s efforts, like Microsoft Launcher and Swiftkey, were developed under the Microsoft Mobile Experiences (MMX) department, which also focused on iOS products. The new dedicated Android division will help the firm focus on its Android offerings and double down on the platform as the first party endeavor alongside its Windows.

The new division will reportedly be led by Ali Akgun, the previous CVP of Surface at Microsoft. At the same time, other key executives are also likely to move due to this reorganization.

Industry sources report that Microsoft has big ideas in mind for Windows and Android over the next few years, which include more advanced integrations between Android smartphones and Windows PCs beyond what’s already available through the Phone Link app today. The software goliath wants to position Android smartphones as an extension to Windows PCs to create interoperable experiences mirroring iPhone and Mac.