Microsoft has confirmed that it’s unifying Windows into one platform

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has confirmed that his company will amalgamate all major versions of Windows into one operating system. Speaking on the company’s quarterly earnings call today, Nadella told analysts Microsoft will “streamline the next version of Windows from three operating systems into one single converged operating system.” Describing the implications of the change, Nadella said “this means one operating system that covers all screen sizes.” Previously, under the management of Steve Ballmer, Microsoft had multiple teams producing different versions of Windows working separately from each other. “Now,” Nadella said, “we have one team with a common architecture.” The Microsoft boss didn’t clarify exactly how Windows, Windows Phone, and Xbox will be unified, but noted the benefit for users and developers — while Microsoft will still sell different editions of Windows, the new unified platform will allow the creation of universal Windows apps that work across all devices running the OS. Microsoft has been pushing toward a greater unification of its platforms in recent months: in April, the company showed off developer tools that would enable the creation of such universal apps. The company’s merging of its operating systems is a step away from its main rival — Apple keeps Mac OS and iOS separate — but the ability to make apps that work on PCs, laptops, tablets, Windows Phones, and Xbox consoles right out of the gate should see the change welcomed by developers.