Android Coming to Windows Mobile?

There are rumors galore that Microsoft will announce that Windows 1o for Mobile devices will be able to run Android apps.  The source for these rumor seems to be coming from one Paul Thurrott who has pretty good track record of predicting Microsoft's next move's.  So the real question here is what does that mean for Windows Mobile users and Microsoft itself?

At face value this seem like a HUGE win for Windows Mobile users.  I mean the OS itself is very smooth, usable and has all the major features that a modern smartphone user wants it simply lacks a ton of apps.  So for the user take their preferred OS throw another 500,000 apps on it and you have a winner right?

Not so fast Windows Mobile is different type of OS with Live Tiles, swing menus, swiping (not button pushing to get from here to there) and this will effectively kill that experience in 3rd party apps on the devices.  Windows Mobile apps are built to flow with the OS and they are built to LOOK like the OS. This move would also effectively kill the Windows Store.  If you are an app maker you have a limited amount of time a resources to make/develop apps....Windows Mobile apps take more of both of those up but hey you are reaching new market/making more money right?  Not anymore....if Windows Mobile devices run Android apps there will no longer be a reason to make Windows apps and the Windows user will only get apps that not optimized for their devices and the experience will suffer GREATLY.

As per Microsoft itself this move be all but throwing in the towel on the mobile division and simply making their OS another Android skin.  There would no real reason to pick up a Windows Mobile device since you are simply buying an Android device with a different user interface.  Why wouldn't the consumer simply buy the device that will get the full Android experience?

Also killing off the Windows Store would mean killing a huge source of revenue for Microsoft themselves.  Not to mention it would annoy developers that have spent massive amounts of time and effort making great titles for the platform.

For all of these reasons I really don't expect this announcement to me made this week but I have been shocked by other moves in the mobile space so lets wait and see.