Reports indicate that Microsoft's development of Windows Blue could see the firm merge its Windows 8 and Windows Phone operating systems together. Digitimes indicates that Microsoft is developing Windows Blue – which will be released publicly via a different name – in order to merge its Windows 8 OS and mobile platform together in a bid to rival the likes of Google's Android and Chrome platforms.
It follows the news that a preliminarily dubbed "Androidbook" could be released by the end of 2013, which would see Google partner with PC makers to release Android-based notebooks and Chromebooks.
Details on Blue remain scarce, and it remains unknown if the product will be merely the first step towards integrating the two platforms, or if it will unify them both on its release.
Digitimes' report also hints at a next-gen Windows operating system, which is reportedly set for an October release. However, it's unclear whether this refers to the release of Blue or a new product in itself, potentially Windows 9.
All should become clear surrounding Windows Blue come June 26th, as Microsoft holds its annual Build developers conference, which the firm has confirmed via an official blog post will showcase "a set of plans referred to internally as Blue."