Microsoft has announced that it will be selling a special customised edition of the recently-launched Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. Known as Samsung Galaxy S8 Microsoft Edition, the device will come loaded with a range of apps and services by Microsoft.
According to a report by The Verge, Microsoft will be bundling its apps including Office, OneDrive, Outlook, and yes its own digital assistant, Cortana. Interestingly, Samsung has its ownalliteration of virtual assistant with the launch of Bixby and it would be interesting see whether Microsoft’s attempt to add Cortana will be mutually beneficial for both the companies or would fail to make its presence felt.
“A Microsoft customization is applied to the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ Microsoft Edition when the devices are unboxed and connected to Wi-Fi,” says a Microsoft spokesperson to the publication. “This customization ensures customers a best-in-class productivity experience with Microsoft applications such as Office, OneDrive, Cortana, Outlook and more.”
This is not the first time Microsoft is depending on the Android counterpart, the company has been bundling its applications on many Samsung’s handsets (Galaxy S6 was the first) and its recently-launched devices already have some pre-installed Microsoft apps as well. The Microsoft Edition devices will retail for $749.99 and $849.99 for the Galaxy S8 and S8+ respectively and will be available for purchase through brick-and-mortar stores in the US.