Hot on the heels of rumors of a Windows Phone NDK comes this nugget from The Verge
Synergy between the phone and the PC / tablet is going to be a big one. Not only will Windows Phone 8 share the same Metro style user interface as Windows 8 for tablets and PCs, but developers can reuse the same code for both operating systems. Additionally, the Zune Desktop is being scrapped in favor of a sync relationship with a companion app and the Xbox companion app will have a partner client on both Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. Similar to Windows 8, seamless SkyDrive integration will also play a big role with cloud syncing. And then there's NFC: in addition to providing that aforementioned "wallet experience" it will allow for tap-to-share capabilities between hardware-supported phones, tablets, and PCs.
I mentioned in an earlier post that I thought we'd start to see this kind of convergence that was more than the skin deep (Metro Style) bits we've seen so far. I hope it continues.
Why all the interest in Windows Phone you ask? Well, I'm hoping that Microsoft can pull off the pivot they're entering with an entirely new and fresh version of Windows. This is the biggest experience overhaul since Windows 95, in my opinion, and I want it to be successful because I don't want to look up in a few years and see that the only two viable operating systems are a locked down iOS and Android. I also think Metro is the most compelling new computer experience to arrive since Mac OS X and that kind of innovation isn't rewarded often enough in this industry.
update: And I was right, it seems, in speculating that Windows Phone would adopt the NT kernel. Paul Thurrot has more.