Samsung started bundling Microsoft’s suite of Office apps like Skype, OneDrive, and Word etc. on its flagship devices starting from the Galaxy S6. This year though, both companies are taking a different approach as Microsoft will be selling its own customised version of the Galaxy S8.
Dubbed the Samsung Galaxy S8 Microsoft Edition, the handset is already available for pre-order through Microsoft’s retail stores in the US. The Microsoft Edition of Galaxy S8 and S8+ will automatically download a bunch of apps from Microsoft when the handsets are connected to a Wi-Fi network during the setup process. All Galaxy S8 units will come with some Microsoft apps pre-installed (like the Office suite), but the Microsoft edition of the handsets will feature more apps from the company like Cortana, Outlook etc. It is likely that Samsung is selling a special version of the Galaxy S8 for Microsoft due to the patent licensing agreement it has with the company. By selling a Microsoft Edition of the Galaxy S8, Samsung would have likely managed to reduce the royalties it had to pay to Microsoft for some Android-related royalties that it holds.
