Verizon Wireless is only selling one Windows Phone device currently and it’s an older device at that. It certainly does not suggest that the carrier is very supportive of the Windows Phone operating system. It skipped on Windows Phone 7.5, saying that it wanted to focus on LTE phones (Rival AT&T got the LTE-enabled Nokia Lumia 900 exclusive). That’s about to change.
Statements made during the analyst call that followed its latest earnings statement suggest that Verizon is getting ready to throw quite a bit of weight behind Windows Phone. Just don’t expect any Windows Phone 7.5 devices. Fran Shammo, Verizon’s Chief Financial Officer said, “We’re really looking at the Windows Phone 8 platform, because that’s a differentiator. We’re working with Microsoft on it.”
Shammo added that he expects Verizon to offer Windows Phone 8 devices in time for the 2012 holiday shopping season. While Microsoft has said little about Windows Phone 8 (codenamed Apollo), most rumours point to an October launch. Shammo hinted that Verizon would also heavily promote the new Windows Phone 8 devices, drawing a parallel to Verizon’s efforts for the Motorola DROID.
Verizon’s seeming new commitment to Windows Phone is widely seen as an effort to ensure that the smartphone space is not completely dominated by only two brands, namely Apple and Google.
Read more: Reuters