Cyanogen and Microsoft just announced that Cyanogen OS devices will come pre-loaded with top Microsoft apps, as part of a “strategic partnership.”

Bing services, Skype, OneDrive, OneNote, Outlook, and Microsoft Office are some of the apps that will be bundled on devices running Cyanogen OS from later this year. In addition, Microsoft will create “native integrations” for these apps, but it’s not clear what this means for now. According to the press release, going native on Cyanogen will enable Microsoft to create a “powerful new class of experiences.” “We aspire to have our tools within arm’s reach of everyone, to empower them in all aspects of their lives,” said Microsoft EVP Peggy Johnson in a press release.

Cyanogen, through its CEO Kirt McMaster, has announced its intentions to take Android away from Google for a while now. McMaster said in March that a Cyanogen device with no Google services could come as early as this year, and a BLU phone may be the first to run this new breed of Android. Incidentally, BLU just announced two new devices running Windows.

After Samsung pre-loaded the Galaxy S6 with Microsoft apps (and the news that Microsoft is giving partners rebates on their patent obligations in order to push its apps), the news that Cyanogen is partnering with Microsoft should come as no surprise. Microsoft is rumored to have mulled an investment in Cyanogen, but ultimately decided against participating in the latest round, which saw investors contributing $80 million to Cyanogen’s war chest.

Under Satya Nadella, Microsoft is following a new strategy of opening up towards competing platforms. Microsoft is almost downright embracing Android, which is an idea that Steve Ballmer would’ve probably laughed out of the conference room.

More details in the press release. What’s your opinion on this partnership between Cyanogen and Microsoft?

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CYANOGEN ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH MICROSOFT

Cyanogen Open OS Platform to Offer Microsoft Services Later This Year

/EINPresswire.com/ — Cyanogen Inc. and Microsoft Corp. announced a partnership to integrate popular Microsoft services across the Cyanogen Operating System. With offices in Palo Alto and Seattle, Cyanogen is a leading mobile operating system company that is evolving the Android platform to create a more open, level playing field for third-party developed apps and services.

Under the partnership, Cyanogen will integrate and distribute Microsoft’s consumer apps and services across core categories, including productivity, messaging, utilities, and cloud-based services. As part of this collaboration, Microsoft will create native integrations on Cyanogen OS, enabling a powerful new class of experiences.

“People around the world use Cyanogen’s operating system and popular Microsoft services to engage with what matters most to them on their mobile devices,” said Kirt McMaster, CEO of Cyanogen Inc. “This exciting partnership with Microsoft will enable us to bring new kinds of integrated services to mobile users in markets around the world.”

“We aspire to have our tools within arm’s reach of everyone, to empower them in all aspects of their lives. This partnership represents another important step towards that ambition,” said Peggy Johnson, Executive Vice President of Microsoft Corp. “We’ll continue to deliver world-class experiences across productivity and communications on Windows, and we’re delighted that Cyanogen users will soon be able to take advantage of those same powerful services.”

The distribution arrangement includes a number of Microsoft services: Bing services, Skype, OneDrive, OneNote, Outlook, and Microsoft Office.

About Cyanogen Inc.
Cyanogen is reimagining mobile computing, giving power to the people to customize their mobile device and content experiences. The CYANOGEN® operating system is built on Android and known for its revolutionary personalization features, intuitive interface, speed, improved battery life, and enhanced security. With a rapidly growing global user base and a vibrant community of developers, we’re intelligently connecting smartphone and tablet consumers to people, apps, and things they love. For more information, visit Cyanogen’s website, Google+, Twitter, and Facebook.

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