Microsoft puts Windows Phone on hold

Microsoft also released the Skype Bot Platform, which includes the SDK, API and Workflows all in the new Skype Bot Portal.

The company introduced a range of programming tools to encourage developers to build universal Microsoft Windows applications.

CEO Satya Nadella took to the stage during the firm's press conference on Wednesday to talk about "conversation-as-a-service", outlining Microsoft's vision that artificial intelligence bots could become the future of customer service.

"As an industry, we are on the cusp of a new frontier that pairs the power of natural human language with advanced machine intelligence. This significant update will help you interact with your Windows 10 devices as naturally as you interact with the world around you - using your pen, presence and voice", Myerson said.

Cortana, Microsoft's virtual digital assistant, gets a lot smarter in Windows 10 Anniversary Update. The new Desktop App Converter will enable game developers to put out Universal Windows App versions of their work, including support for modding.

The 270 million represents new computers and devices with Windows 10 installed as well as upgrades of existing gadgets.

Here are the five big moves that Microsoft made at Build 2016 that you need to know about.

"This morning, we will demonstrate how Windows 10 provides the most productive platform for game developers of all sizes", said Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft's Xbox division.

For an overview of everything announced during Microsoft Build 2016 keynote, check out this post here.

Microsoft began its first shipments of its augmented-reality headgear, HoloLens, staking its place in what is expected to be an emerging computing platform.

These statements from Myerson highlight why Microsoft has been focusing on other platforms, even rival mobile operating systems like Android and iOS, rather than Windows 10 Mobile.

While there are some alternatives to this framework, and several apps, like Slack, come with their own bots on board, this should make it easier for developers to implement a system to communicate with users using natural language appropriate to the context.

The day two keynote for Build focused heavily on Microsoft's cloud platform, Azure.

The mode is only now available in a preview environment, however, and as such should now only be used by experienced developers.

Of course, there have been problems long before Build. Consider this: Microsoft pushed out the long-awaited Windows 10 Mobile update to older handsets just weeks before Build, finally bringing them into the Windows 10 ecosystem alongside the (very few) newer handsets like the Lumia 950.

Source: Microsoft puts Windows Phone on hold