Windows is still a huge part of Microsoft Corp.’s business, but it’s not the future of Microsoft. The future is all about 5G, artificial intelligence, cloud, and further partnerships with companies for the ever-expanding scope of technology and the world.

“The world now is very different,” said Rokeya Jones (pictured), senior principal of the 5G Azure Connectivity PM Group at Microsoft Corp. “I see Microsoft making a huge transformation over the last … three years. I think our company is dedicated and focused on creating more diverse technology that can meet … customers’ needs all over the globe.”

Jones spoke with Dave Vellante (@dvellante) and David Floyer (@dfloyer), co-hosts of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s mobile livestreaming studio, during the Micron Insight event in San Francisco. They discussed Microsoft’s changing culture, 5G, and the partnership with AT&T Inc. (see the full interview with transcript here). (* Disclosure below.)

5G, AT&T and Microsoft

One of the shifts at Microsoft is its willingness to partner with companies instead of working within a silo, according to Jones. This is apparent in its partnership with AT&T to deliver cloud, AI, and 5G innovation. While many people may have wondered why Microsoft was interested in 5G, Jones sees it as a natural fit.

“The telcos and all the communication service providers — we’ve always been either their customer or they’ve been our customer. The new world that we’re going into now is, ‘How do we help the telcos now be better enablers so that we can accelerate business?'” Jones said. “This business of 5G is not as simple as it sounds.”

What Microsoft decided to do was go all-in with AT&T and help the company with its global strategy to help stabilize its wireless network, combine software, and find principles and capabilities for future innovation. This is crucial because the power in partnerships like this is going to enable things like smart cities, connected vehicles, and any number of internet of things objects in the future.

“In the past, it’s always been the power of two — where two companies come together and we can make it work,” Jones concluded. “Now you need an extra component. Not only do you need a company like Microsoft … you need a telco, but you’re going to need a system integrator, right? And I’m not talking about the hardware side, but more of the software-application side.”

Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of the Micron Insight event. (* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for the Micron Insight event. Neither Micron Technology Inc., the sponsor for theCUBE’s event coverage, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE