New rumor suggests that Microsoft will unify all major operating systems under its belt to one platform codenamed Threshold. It is expected to come in 2015 releases, that is exactly after one year of Windows 8.1 update 1 release. Windows 8.1 update 1 is the first major update for the Windows 8 OS, the same time Microsoft will also launch Windows Phone 8.1 (Blue) for Windows Phone platform, it is expected to roll out in Q2 2014.
The latest rumor comes from May Jo Foley of ZDNet, according to her the codename for the 2015 releases that are planned is Threshold. The term was mentioned in Microsoft’s Executive VP, Terry Myerson emails according to her contacts. If the rumor is correct then the Threshold includes updates for all three operating systems of Microsoft, Windows 8.x, Windows Phone 8 and Xbox One. According to the report the codename is taken from Xbox Game Halo, like Crotana name for Windows voice assistant was also taken from Xbox.
Already these three operating systems share Windows NT core, with further unification that will all be able to share a single appstore. Microsoft engineers are making the developer toolset of all three operating systems similar. From quite sometime Microsoft is trying to unify its desktop and smartphone platform, with the Threshold it will go to a great extent to support single appstore for all its platforms.
Since this is very early there is not much information available but we will know in the near future on Microsoft’s Threshold plans.
