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[Rumor] Microsoft prepping its own branded WP8 handset

posted on Oct 1st 2012 at 10:05am by Ashley King

Here’s a juicy one to bite into this morning. According to the China Times, Microsoft has been developing its own branded Windows Phone for the last four months, going so far as to select a manufacturing partner for the handsets that are scheduled to be ready for the first half of 2013.

Of course, these rumors have been around since the Surface unveiling and Greg Sullivan attempted to squash them by saying, “We have a strong ecosystem of partners that we are very satisfied with.”

What do our readers think? If this turns out to be true, would this put you off of buying any of the flagship phones from Samsung, HTC, and Nokia in preparation for Microsoft’s handset?

 

  • idlelimey

    This won’t slow me down in my march towards a 920. Mostly because I don’t believe it. Sounds like a ‘Plan B’ to me, an insurance policy in case Elop gets the boot and Nokia become the next supplier of conveyor belt ‘Droid phones.

    There’s a very real possibility that Samsung, HTC and Nokia withdraw support for the platform if WP8 doesn’t raise the market share. It would be deeply tragic, but a last hurrah with a MS branded handset might be all the cards MS has left?

    Let’s hope it never gets to that position. Imagine having a choice between Android or iOS nad nothing else? Scary.

  • http://twitter.com/jukestaposition Jukey

    I think I’m gonna have to wait if this is true. I love the Surface’s hardware and design and if this is true, perhaps they’re going to design their phone like the Surface. But, I still want an 8X.

  • http://www.2girls1game.com Ashley K.

    That’s actually a good what-if scenario. What if Elop gets the boot and Nokia switches to Android. Who will Microsoft partner up with then? HP? Will they go at it by themselves and shun the likes of HTC and Samsung? Very interesting indeed…

  • http://twitter.com/richkidumad LosAltosHillsKid

    I think this time next year we are talking about an android powered Nokia phone. Probably a mid to low range android phone. I like WP, but they arent moving 2 million phones in 24 hours. As far as a MS built phone, if there’s more traction on this soon, I may just buy a cheap Lumina 900 and see it this pans out.

  • idlelimey

    I think Nokia and HTC need Windows Phone to work now more than ever. With Samsung becoming the go-to choice for ‘Droid they both need to differentiate. In fact, the rise and rise of Samsung may play in to Microsoft’s hands, making Windows Phone the only other viable platform that can be licensed to OEM’s it’s exactly what they need to set their hardware apart from the Galaxy range.

    Otherwise, Nokia could join a race to the bottom picking up scraps left behind by Samsung. Windows Phone 8 must succeed.

  • http://www.gamesobscura.com/ themizarkshow

    I’ve always liked their hardware. Keyboards, mice, Zune, the more recent Xbox’s that don’t burn to a crisp… if the Surface goes over decently, I would consider a Microsoft brand phone for sure.

  • Shaq

    i will stick with nokia hardware n win os

  • http://twitter.com/outlaw_d Big D

    Nokia better stay away from Android.