Microsoft's Windows 10 OS has got its users curious, but the company is revealing details of the new OS in bits and pieces, to sustain the curiosity. The Redmond-based software giant announced on Tuesday that the Windows 10 OS will be launched globally this summer. Microsoft also mentioned about its new partnership with an unusual name, Xiaomi.
While the partnership raises several questions about its future, Microsoft said that it's solely for testing purposes. According to the agreement, Xiaomi will deploy a group of Mi 4 power users to test out Windows 10 Technical Preview to point out any shortcomings.
"Through a new program with Xiaomi, one of the top smartphone distributors in the world, a select group of Xiaomi Mi 4 power users will be invited to help test Windows 10 and contribute to its future release later this year," Windows chief Terry Myerson wrote in the company's blog on Tuesday.
"These power users will have the opportunity to download the Windows 10 Technical Preview – installing it and providing their feedback to Microsoft," he added.
It is still not clear why Microsoft chose Xiaomi as a test partner for its Windows 10 on mobile, when it could be run by the exclusive Lumia series. The Chinese smartphone vendor has grown enormously over the past months, grabbing the top rank in its home market for smartphones sales last year. Microsoft also mentioned other partners like Lenovo and Tencent to offer "upgrade services" to customers.
Microsoft did not mention how it will select the users for the test, but it is clear only Xiaomi Mi 4 owners in China will get the opportunity. Select users will be able to flash their devices with Windows 10 OS and help Microsoft build a better OS by reporting glitches, if any. It is not clear if the users will have dual boot option but they will be notified in the coming months, The Next Web reported.
The latest partnership has sparked rumours about a possible Windows 10-powered Xiaomi smartphone. But the Chinese company preferred to talk only the latest tie-up. A company spokesperson told TNW that "this is an experimental program entirely led by Microsoft, and we are happy that Mi fans with Mi 4 devices in China will be able to participate and provide feedback."
Microsoft will be offering free Windows 10 upgrade to users running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 on their PCs and mobile devices. The new OS will host several changes such as a new biometric authentication process and retirement of Internet Explorer. We'll know official details with the launch of Windows 10 in summer.
