At Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s Build developer conference sometime back this year Microsoft revealed that it would soon introduce tools making it simpler for Android and iOS programmers to reuse their existing code as well as port their apps to Windows.
The Android version known as Windows Bridge for Android is currently in an invitation-only technical preview stage. It is expected to be launched in a public beta the coming fall. The Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s iOS version dubbed Project Islandwood is having its debut public preview now. The software code for the Windows Bridge for iOS is currently access as an open source project on GitHub.
Microsoft is relying on the open-source community to pitch in with comments, code, testing, and bug reports to perfect the product.
Microsoft has emphasized that the product is still in the development stage. Some features have not been incorporated yet or have many bugs. As per Microsoft, the final version will launch in fall at the same time of the launch of the very first update to Visual Studio 2015.
Leveraging the bridge coders can port their iOS apps to both Windows 10 and Windows 8.1. The product manager on the Windows Bridge for iOS personnel Salmaan Ahmed opined that the aim of the tool is to help coders write quality Windows apps harnessing to the maximum the existing knowledge and already created code.
It is well known that Microsoft found it difficult to persuade Android and iOS programmers to port their apps to Windows. By empowering them with the capability to reuse most of their code, several developers may reconsider the Windows platform.
Mobile platforms such as Android and iOS have come far ahead of Microsoft’s mobile offerings. Hence, the latter company is trying to get iOS and Android developers to be able to use their already built apps on the Windows platform.
It is estimated that the Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s Play Store has 1.6 million apps with Apple’s App Store ranking second and boasting of 1.5 million apps. Microsoft’s numbers are certain be less than 300,00 apps. By roping in Android and iOS apps, it will significantly ramp up its app count shortly.
Sources: pcwprld, theverge
