Windows Phone 8: Microsoft denies wanting to produce a smartphone

After launching into the development of a tactile tablet to accelerate the adoption of Windows 8, Microsoft could also do the same with Windows Phone 8 smartphones, right? Apparently not, with the company stating they are not interested.

Hardly surprisingly, the arrival of Microsoft as a tactile tablet manufacturer running Windows 8 has led to numerous comments about their position in the market compared to their hardware partners.

Quickly enough, these companies started asking whether Microsoft would be practicing the same strategy with Windows Phone 8 by producing their own smartphones which could be used as examples by handset manufacturers.

Even if Microsoft is keen to demonstrate the benefits of their mobile platform, the conditions between Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 are very different. Responding to rumours about Microsoft developing their own smartphone, Greg Sullivan, Marketing Manager for Windows Phone, has denied this is the case – stating Microsoft is satisfied with the Windows Phone ecosystem.

The group has provided the names of the leading Windows Phone 8 smartphone manufacturers (Nokia, HTC, Samsung and Huawei) and Sullivan’s simple "no comment" answer, so as to not worry partners who are already struggling with certain aspects of the Windows Phone 8.

Nokia is also obliged to explain that the release of the Windows Phone 8 doesn’t signal the end of their support for Windows Phone 7.5 users. Users on these devices will be able to update to Windows Phone 7.8 with some Windows Phone 8 elements (the full list is not yet known, with only the new welcome screen and connection sharing having been communicated) along with services exclusively developed by Nokia (Nokia Drive, Nokia Transports, new functions for the digital camera...) which will be available from July 2012.