[WorldMaker]

I think the new MS realigned with some of the old MS' ideas: the Surface line is meant to lead OEM hardware manufacturers, not to be the sole OEM hardware manufacturer. I don't see the new MS releasing a new phone/phone OS branch without phone hardware manufacturers begging for it. That doesn't seem likely without pressure from phone carriers, and they seem very happy with the Android and Google duopoly as it is easy for them to sell and/or profit from.

[WorldMaker]

Hah, the Freudian slip there of "Android and Google" instead of "Apple and Google" amuses me noticing it days later. It's probably increasingly accurate, too.