What the author of the original article, and his Microsoft source, probably mean is that: Microsoft realizes that broad consumer take up of Windows phones is moot at this point (it peaked at 5%, drifted lower, and seems stuck at 2.5-3% global share) so they've re-positioned their smartphones as something that they can sell as one part of a complete package to IT enterprise buyers, hence the focus on Continuum and being 'productive like a boss'.
That last line isn't something you throw out there, when you're trying to appeal to the Instagram/Periscope/Uber/Snapchat generation.
Hey, at least it's a niche of some sort (shrug).
I think you are spot on. IMHO the new Win 10 mobile ( NOT windows phones ) devices are a curve ball for Apple. They have their Macs, but are they really integrated?? Don't get me wrong, when I was DJing, macs won hands down on reliability, but the minute they went wrong, you pretty much had to throw them out, particularly the iMac G series. They are expensive to buy, and expensive to run!!
I ported android to a netbook once. Never again!! Doesn't work! Google would have a hell of a job to offer Integration on their platform!
Which brings us back to MSFT. I think, and hope, that the integration of Win 10 into surface, mobile device, PC etc will pay dividends. I appreciate the views of those who have a downer on things, BUT, with only 3% of the consumer market on mobile, the enterprise sector is being targeted. MSFT is a business. It's OS has worldwide recognition. It's brand is known worldwide, they gave win 10 away ensuring that whatever win 10 device you use, it will all be familiar. In the enterprise sector, if the whole company is singing from the same hymn sheet, productivity increases.
In my little taxi firm, our drivers have windows phones, with the start screen all setup the same. They have individual folders in one drive for jobs etc. The simplicity of it means they aren't parked up on the phone all the time, phone numbers and addresses don't end up being misinterpreted. Yes, I know other devices could probably do the same, but for price of an iPhone I got several 640's!!! So integration in a business setting works for me!