Cyanogen Inc announces partnership with Microsoft to deliver apps on devices

Cyanogen Inc has taken another step towards fulfilling their intention to ‘take Android from Google’, announcing a new strategic partnership with Microsoft. The partnership will see Microsoft develop integration with Cyanogens version of the OS, as well as the inclusion of Microsoft apps on builds released.

The services and apps to be included in future Cyanogen OS builds include Bing services, Skype, OneDrive, OneNote, Outlook, and Microsoft Office. For their part, Microsoft will ‘create native integrations on Cyanogen OS, enabling a powerful new class of experiences’.

The integrations will begin ‘later this year’, but no exact date has been announced. Whether this announcement will be individualised to manufacturers isn’t clear – it will be interesting to see if Micromax wants to see Microsoft services installed on their Yureka line of handsets. We’ll see what happens on this one.

[showhide type=”detailedspecs” more_text=”Show Full Press Release” less_text=”Hide Press release”]

Cyanogen Announces Strategic Partnership With Microsoft

Cyanogen Open OS Platform to Offer Microsoft Services Later This Year

PALO ALTO, CA–(Marketwired – April 16, 2015) – 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.[/showhide]