In a deal announced Tuesday, Microsoft and Lenovo agreed to collaborate in a move that will have the Microsoft Office, Skype and OneDrive apps installed on the Chinese company’s smartphones.
“Microsoft’s thrilled that our productivity apps will be pre-installed on Lenovo’s premium devices,” said Nick Parker, Microsoft corporate vice president.
“The marriage of Microsoft’s apps and Lenovo’s Android-based devices will enable customers around the world to be more productive, more connected and achieve even more.”
The agreement will also enable Lenovo and Motorola devices to use patented Microsoft tools under cross-licensing terms.
ETTech | Lenovo signs deal to preload Microsoft apps like Office & Skype on its Android devices Jais George (@jais_george) August 23, 2016
Lenovo chief of corporate alliances Christian Eigen said using the Microsoft technology on their devices will “bring additional value to consumers around the globe.”
“Our collaboration with Microsoft will create new opportunities for our customers to take advantage of some of Microsoft’s most popular apps,” said Eigen.
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In the coming years, the Beijing-based firm is expected to produce millions of Android mobile devices.
Last year, Microsoft and Samsung signed a similar deal that will allow Microsoft’s six applications – OneNote, OneDrive, Skype, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint – to be integrated into the South Korean technology titan’s smartphones and tablets.
“Great things happen when you converge services and devices,” said Peggy Johnson, Microsoft executive vice president of business development. “Our partnership with Samsung is emblematic of our efforts to bring the best of Microsoft’s productivity services to everyone, on every device, so people can be productive wherever, however and whenever they want.”
Lenovo, a known computer maker, has been taking steps to expand its fledgling mobile handset ventures to keep pace with well-established rivals such as Apple and Samsung.
The company reported last week a net profit increase of 64 percent in the first quarter of the year but revenue sank six percent as sales of its PCs and smartphones continued to struggle.
