[Updated] There's also a Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ Microsoft Edition available to pre-order
Yesterday's Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ announcement held few surprises (with the possible exception of Samsung DeX) thanks to all of the leaks ahead of the event. But something we didn’t find out until today is that there is a customized Microsoft Edition of the handset available too.
Not only will there be a Samsung Galaxy S8 Microsoft Edition and a Samsung Galaxy S8+ Microsoft Edition, but the smartphones will be available to buy direct from Microsoft. Pre-orders start today, but only in Microsoft's US retail stores.
Quite whether people are interested in a Microsoft-customized version of Samsung's flagship phone is not clear, but the customization is very limited. Samsung and Microsoft collaborated during the creation of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ to get Samsung DeX working properly, and the handsets include OneDrive, Skype and Office as standard. The Microsoft Edition of the phones will also include Cortana, Outlook and -- intriguingly -- "more."
As reported by the Verge, a Microsoft spokesperson explains:
A Microsoft customization is applied to the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ Microsoft Edition when the devices are unboxed and connected to Wi-Fi. This customization ensures customers a best-in-class productivity experience with Microsoft applications such as Office, OneDrive, Cortana, Outlook and more.
Online pre-ordering of this edition of the phones is not available, so if you're interested, you will have to head down to your nearest Microsoft retail store.
Update
Microsoft contacted BetaNews to make a clarification. A spokesperson for the company said:
Customers can purchase Samsung Galaxy S8 devices at Microsoft Stores and experience Microsoft's best-in-class productivity experience applications such as Office, OneDrive, Cortana, Outlook and more. The applications do not come pre-loaded on the device. Microsoft Store associates will assist Samsung Galaxy S8 customers to set-up their devices in the store to ensure every customer is ready to work, play and connect on their device when they leave.