Samsung Galaxy S8 Microsoft Edition now available for pre-order
If you've bought a Samsung phone within the past two years, you may have noticed it came with a few Microsoft apps pre-installed. Starting with the Galaxy S6 and continuing with its successor, the Redmond-based company has made sure to include Office, OneDrive, OneNote, and Skype inside each new Samsung flagship device. Today, Microsoft has announced the next phase in its mobile app bundling strategy: a "Microsoft Edition" of the Galaxy S8.
The Verge reports that, starting today, Microsoft is accepting pre-orders for the device. But what exactly is the Samsung Galaxy S8 Microsoft Edition? Apparently, it's just a standard Galaxy S8 bundled with a bunch of Microsoft apps. Aside from the default handful of apps, such as the aforementioned OneDrive and Skype, this special edition of the recently-announced phone also comes with Microsoft Outlook and the Cortana virtual assistant. There may additional apps, but Microsoft has not mentioned them specifically. The Verge's report makes no mention of any physical or other customization on the Galaxy S8.
Interestingly, the apps don't actually come pre-installed on the Microsoft Edition handsets. Rather, when the devices are first connected to Wi-Fi "a Microsoft customization is applied" to them, according to a Microsoft spokesperson. This means that the apps are downloaded and installed when a user initially sets up their phone.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 Microsoft Edition is only available for pre-order in Microsoft retail stores, not online. For those who choose to skip it and pick up a regular Galaxy S8 instead, rest assured that the basic Microsoft app bundle is still present. Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Skype; they're all there—whether you want them or not.
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