Less so on desktop, but Ive been arguing for a while that Microsoft could ship the Windows shell+Bing/OfficeGraph on top of Android and instantly reenter the Mobile Phone arena. It's something they could ship that installs on existing phones. People could "convert" their Android experience and "fall in love with Windows all over again" or whatever BS marketing wants to put out. The important part though would be a unique visual identity, and pushing people towards Microsoft apps and services, away from Google.

Google made this play easy by splitting off Play Services. Now all Microsoft has to do is essentially replace Play Services with Windows Services, Microsoft Services, Azure Services, or if Microsoft names it, Microsoft Windows Azure Team Site Foundations Forefront Services.

I know they have the Launcher, but to actually put a dent in Google Android, Microsoft needs to play more like Amazon and Fire os, including their own curated store.

Microsoft has embraced Android, if it Extends it, it would be logical to think that Microsoft Services would end up being a single package of cloud services that transcend Android and Windows, with the same servers, and Client implementations that best fit the OS capabilities.