Barra: Xiaomi welcomes Microsoft and its experimental program, but we are not partners with them

Just the other day, we told you how Microsoft is testing the Xiaomi Mi 4 by flashing a Windows 10 ROM on the device. We even showed you some photos of the Xiaomi handset running Microsoft's mobile OS. If the testing with Xiaomi pans out, Microsoft hopes to create ROMs for different Android devices. Flashing the ROM on a particular model will allow the user to have the native Windows 10 experience on his unit.

Even though Xiaomi made it clear that they were not partnering with Microsoft, rumors started circulating anyway that the two companies were working together and that future Xiaomi handsets would dual boot Android and Windows, or even run Windows all alone (replacing Google's open source OS). That brought a response from Googler turned Xiaomier (to make up a new word) Hugo Barra who put up a post on his Google+ page.

Barra reiterated that this is an "experimental" program being conducted by Microsoft in cooperation with the "Mi fan community in China." He explained how those who want to take part in the test will have to flash their device with the Windows 10 ROM provided by Microsoft. But Barra did say that "Xiaomi continues to fully embrace the Android ecosystem through our MIUI software platform," and added that the company has new Android features on the way.


So we can now put all of those Xiaomi-Microsoft rumors to bed.

source: +HugoBarra via AndroidAuthority