Can’t decide what mobile OS you want to run on your smartphone? There appear to be a growing number of options for folks who want one handset that can run multiple operating systems.
Spain’s Geeksphone is now offering the Revolution, a phone which can run either Android or Boot 2 Gecko (the open source version of Firefox OS), although you’ll have to wipe one to install the other. Now Indian phone maker Karbonn Mobiles says it’s planning to launch a dual-OS phone by this summer.
The Karbonn Mobiles phone would be one of the first to dual boot Google Android and Microsoft’s Windows Phone software.
Karbonn already offers Android phones, and The Times of India reports Karbonn has signed a licensing deal with Microsoft to use Windows Phone software as well.
While it may seem a bit surprising that Microsoft would agree to share space on a handset, Microsoft has been taking steps to make it easier for manufacturers to install their software. That includes support for Qualcomm’s Android reference designs which would allow a phone maker to use the same hardware for Android or Windows Phone devices.
I’d kind of assumed that meant you’d see Android and Windows Phone variants of the same device rather than dual-boot hardware that can run both operating systems. But if the articles in the Times of India is correct, Karbonn is planning to build a dual-boot phone.
That could be a bit confusing for users, since you’d have different apps, settings, contact lists, and other features for each operating system. But if you like the look and feel of Windows Phone but want access to the million or so apps designed to run on Android, a dual-boot phone could be an interesting solution.
via /r/Android
who in their right mind would want to switch from Android (with evil Google’s data tentacles at the back) to Windphone that has not only evil Microcruft’s data tentacles at the back, but is also completely locked down…?
To enjoy Microcruft’s walled ghetto and toll booths?
Aren’t all the sheep who are ok with being in a walled garden are already with Apple?
I’d rather have an OS that returns full ownership of the device to the person who purchased it. Ubuntu and Jolla would be the ones who come closest to that and hence would actually be worth a dual boot.
Love it. I like the Windows Phone OS, and I also love Android. Hopefully it doesn’t compromise on specs and ruin the user experience.