Xiaomi testing Windows 10 for phones -- could Microsoft use the company for flagship?

Microsoft confirms today that Windows 10 -- its forthcoming operating system for desktop, mobile, Xbox, and IoT platforms -- will be releasing this Summer in 190 countries and 111 languages. On a blog post, the Windows Phone-maker also announces that it has entered into a partnership with Xiaomi, China's top smartphone vendor to test Windows 10 for phones, suggesting that the two companies are working to make a flagship-level Windows Phone smartphone.

Microsoft notes that the company is testing Windows 10 with select Xiaomi Mi 4 power users. The Mi 4 is XIaomi's current flagship smartphone, which runs Android. "Through a new program with Xiaomi, one of the top smartphone distributors in the world, a select group of Xiaomi Mi 4 power users will be invited to help test Windows 10 and contribute to its future release later this year", the company notes on a blog post. "These power users will have the opportunity to download the Windows 10 Technical Preview – installing it and providing their feedback to Microsoft".

Xiaomi isn't a household name in US, but the technology company is insanely popular in China, India and several other developing nations. It has earned a name for itself for selling high-end handsets at aggressively cheap price points. For instance, the Mi 4 flagship handset packs in a similar set of specs as the Galaxy S5 and costs about $300 sans contract. Its aggressive pricing has helped it become the third-largest smartphone vendor, after Samsung and Apple.

Last month, Xiaomi announced its plan to debut in the United States and Europe markets later this year. The company, however, noted that it won't be selling its smartphone and will rather kick things off with power banks, and other phone accessories.

The part about the Windows 10 Xiaomi news that people might be missing is that you'll be able to install Win10 on an Android phone.

— Robert McLaws (@robertmclaws) March 18, 2015

Microsoft should be thrilled to welcome Xiaomi as a hardware partner for its mobile operating system. Last year, the Redmond-based company added more than two dozens of hardware partners for its Windows Phone platform. We've reached out to both the companies to learn more about their collaboration, and will update the post when we hear back.