Mobile

Sony reportedly still in talks with Microsoft about launching a Windows Phone handset

Alexandra Burlacu

While most smartphone manufacturers focus on one platform, Sony is apparently considering to join the Windows Phone platform as well.

Sony has recently launched several high-end handsets running Google's popular Android mobile operating system, but the Japanese company is reportedly looking into launching Windows Phone smartphones as well in the future.

Speaking with TechRadar in a new exclusive interview, head of Sony Mobile Europe Pierre Perron said that his company is still in talks with other potential partners, including Microsoft. Perron mentioned that Sony is exploring Windows Phone as a platform, as well as the possibility of what the company could add on top of Microsoft's platform. The executive said that Sony seeks to move away from being a single OS manufacturer and wants to expand its offerings.

"We are continuing our discussions with other partners, including Microsoft, as part of our partnership with this company on the broader Sony spectrum," Perron told TechRadar. "[Working with Microsoft] is an interesting proposition for us in the PC environment, and we continue our engagement with them. We are exploring this as part of our discussion in mobile space too. One thing is using the platform [Windows Phone] itself, and another is 'what can we deliver on top of it'?"

As the discussions are still tentative, there is no timeframe set at this point as to when Sony might actually launch a Windows Phone-based handset. As TechCrunch points out, this new statement is similar to another comment Perron made back in 2012. Soon after that, however, CEO Kunimasa Suzuki dispelled such speculation, saying that Sony had no plans to launch a Windows Phone device.

On the other hand, the new report falls in line with previous news. Late last year, The Information claimed that Sony and Microsoft had been discussing the possibility of launching a Windows Phone in mid-2014. At the time, the publication cited one person involved in the talks, and another one who was familiar with the actual handset.

The Windows Phone platform has seen an increase in relevance and market share mainly due to Nokia's devices, and Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 Update 3 (GDR3) finally added support for higher-end handsets with more powerful hardware and larger screens.

A Sony Windows Phone smartphone may be yet to materialize, but it would be understandable if the company didn't want to put all of its eggs in the Android basket. Until such a deal concretizes and the company makes an official announcement, however, don't hold your breath for a new Windows Phone handset from Sony.

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