Huawei was not the only company to get an early start on Mobile World Congress. Microsoft also today held a press conference. While it had no new devices to unveil, it did announce that it has added nine new Windows Phone hardware partners to “broaden the portfolio of devices for consumers and introduce new price points to accelerate growth in key markets.” Joining current partners Nokia, Samsung, HTC and Huawei are Foxconn, Gionee, Lava (Xolo), Lenovo, LG, Longcheer, JSR, Karbonn and ZTE. With its new partners onboard, Microsoft is promising a wider range of devices covering everything from “iconic to lower-cost options.”
We are pleased to add these new partners to our expanding Windows Phone ecosystem. They will be key contributors to continued growth across price points and geographies for Windows Phone,” said Nick Parker, corporate vice president of the OEM Division at Microsoft.
Without specifically mentioning Windows Phone 8.1, Microsoft also announced broader hardware support for the mobile operating system. Windows Phone will now support the Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 and 400 processors, major cellular technologies that include LTE (TDD/FDD), HSPA+, EVDO and TD-SCMA, soft keys (eliminating the need for capacitive or hardware buttons) and dual SIM capabilities. Microsoft also promised that hardware manufacturers will have wider customizability options at their disposal to better differentiate their devices from those of competitors.
Windows Phone 8.1 is expected to be announced in April when Microsoft holds its annual BUILD conference. It takes place between April 2 and April 4 this year at the Moscone Center in San Francisco and is already sold out.
Source : Microsoft