When Microsoft announced and released the original version of Windows Phone, those in the industry did not know that the operating system would inspire changes throughout the company. It was Windows Phone that brought the solid colored tiles and gradient-free interface to the masses. Windows Phone was the first to include effortless cloud syncing with SkyDrive. Windows Phone has had such an impact on Microsoft’s software and services that the team responsible for creating Windows Phone now leads the team that runs Windows.
Recently, the synergy between Windows and Windows Phone has started to show some unique results. Today, Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 8.1 users can sync Internet Explorer favorites, passwords, and accent colors between phones, tablets, and desktop computers. Additionally, both operating systems allow users to purchase an app once and download it to desktop, laptop or tablet.
This week, Apple stepped up to the sync floor. iOS 8 and OS x Yosemite operating systems not only allow users to work on multiple devices. It also allows a user’s Mac and iPhone to work together to ensure that a user receives their text messages and only ignores the phone calls they mean.
Windows Phone and Windows users can’t replicate the calling and messaging features of iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, but they can integrate them more closely. Here’s how to clone some of iOS 8’s Continuity features on Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 8.1.
Editing Documents and Spreadsheets Without Transferring
One of the features that Apple demonstrated was the ability to start working on a document on an iPad or iPhone and finish it on a tablet.
It’s pretty easy to replicate this experience in the Microsoft ecosystem if you have the right software: Office 365 or Office 2013. They’re basically the same thing, and by default Microsoft enables OneDrive integration so users can upload new files created in Office 2013. directly to the cloud.
Open a file in the reputable Office 2013 application. we are using. Now tap or click.
Now tap or click on the menu on the right. Any other computer where you open Word 2013 will reveal the document you just saved. Also, this document will appear on your Windows Phone 8 or Windows Phone 8.1 device by going to the Office app.
While OneDrive is only built into the latest version of Office, users can avoid the upgrade cost by using Microsoft’s Office Online Web Apps. Saving documents and spreadsheets here will also reveal the same documents in mobile versions of Office.
Keep Browsing The Same Sites
Both Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 8.1 share Internet Discovery favorites, as would be expected from any modern ecosystem. What most users don’t realize yet is that Windows 8.1 also provides tab synchronization between devices. This allows users to open the website they last browsed and pick up where they left off on their Windows Phone device.
Browse a website using the Windows Store version on your Windows 8.1 device. In this case, we’re browsing Bing.
Now take your Windows Phone 8.1 device or other Windows 8.1 tablet, desktop or laptop and open Internet Explorer.
Tap the button just to the right or left of the address bar.
Now to reveal the websites you have opened on your other devices.
Syncing Text Messages and Phone Calls
There’s no denying that Apple has added the ability to work together and manage messages and phone calls to Mac and iPhone. It’s not just a cheap salon trick or something users might love but never use. Instead, it’s the closest Apple has come to solving a real-world problem since the launch of the iPad.
Microsoft has no such feature for its devices, no first party way to integrate different types of communication without some setup work. Instead, what Microsoft offers is Skype. More specifically, Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 8.1 users can pay for a Skype Premium account and pair it with a phone number to send and receive text messages and phone calls wherever they are. Not ideal, but possible.
In the United States, a Skype Premium Account costs $2.99. When paired with a Skype number, users can call you wherever you are. Unfortunately, sending and receiving text messages isn’t nearly as easy over Skype. You have to pay for every text message you send or receive. Today each message will cost you $0.11.
The Skype app is available on every Windows 8.1 device. Windows Phone users will need to download it from: Windows Phone Store. Skype is also available on Xbox One.
Again, none of these solutions are perfect. That said, it’s a way to reap some of the benefits iPhone and Mac users can expect when iOS 8 and Mac OS X Yosemite launch this fall. Hopefully by then Microsoft will share their integration plans for Windows and Windows Phone.
