Xiaomi has a very solid footprint in China when it comes Android smartphones. Earlier this year, Xiaomi and Microsoft entered into a partnership to test Windows 10 on Android smartphones. The new Windows 10 operating system was released for select Xiaomi Mi4 users as a ROM. Selected users were able to flash the ROM and get the taste of how Windows 10 Mobile operates. This is a good step from the software giant as by flashing a ROM on an Android device will mean that it will be using Microsoft services as whole.
We intend to start our insider program in China with Xiaomi phones in the next few weeks… The software is running very nicely on these!
— joebelfiore (@joebelfiore) July 30, 2015
It was a small campaign tested with a small number of users, but it seems things are about to change in the near future. Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore mentioned on Twitter that the company will kick off the Windows Insider program in China for Xiaomi phones in the next few weeks (via Neowin). He didn’t go into specific on the models, but it seems Xiaomi users will be able to flash Windows 10 Mobile on their devices.
#10! The beautiful Xiaomi Mi4! I’ve been carrying this as my daily driver for about a week, on 10240. It’s LOVELY! pic.twitter.com/54ATz5tzrF
— joebelfiore (@joebelfiore) July 30, 2015
Furthermore, Belfiore also shared an image of the Xiaomi MI4 running Windows 10 Mobile build 10240 and said, “I’ve been carrying this as my daily driver for about a week, on 10240. It’s LOVELY!”
To be honest, this will be a great initiative from Microsoft and will help them get Windows 10 Mobile on existing Android devices, provided they release the ROM for devices from other manufacturers as well. But, don’t just be too excited about it as it’s not happening any time soon.
It may take a few weeks, if not months, to get it up and running on Xiaomi phones so devices from other big players is still way too far. We’ll update you as soon as the Windows Insider program kicks off for Xiaomi users in China. Stay tuned.
