Last updated on January 20, 2015

While it’s not official as yet, it is believed that Microsoft might be considering letting users install and run Android apps on Windows Phones.

The fact that Microsoft, despite being a giant in the PC market, has not been able to make much way with its operating system in the mobile market, is in no small part due to the lack of apps on the Windows Phone Store.

Allowing Android apps to run on Windows Phones may just be the move that solves this glaring issue for Microsoft and make for more sales and a larger market share.

There is no doubt that Windows Phones are attractive in terms of appearance and design, and while the OS itself may not be as customizable as Android, a lot of people only drop it in favor of the latter because several high profile applications are not available on Windows.

Currently, the biggest competitors for Microsoft in the mobile arena are Google and Apple, and the company is reportedly considering this move to give its devices a fighting chance against the market leaders.

The company is also going to be launching Windows 10 for PCs and mobile devices soon, and if Android apps are allowed, they’re likely going to run on the latest version of the Windows OS.

If Microsoft indeed goes in this direction, it won’t be unheard of, as BlackBerry made the same move for its newest devices, allowing Android apps to run on BlackBerry OS 10.

BlackBerry’s decision has had a positive response so far, even though compatibility is not universal and a lot of Android apps don’t work properly. Nevertheless, it would be an exciting development for Windows Phones and would definitely lead to an increase in their sales.

You can read the story on The Information here.