Shocker! Samsung licenses Windows Phone 7
Okay, two crazy bits of news here: first off, it seems Samsung intends to start making cellphones. Second, some of them will be running Windows Phone 7! Insane, right? Okay, we kid, but Sammy is just now getting official with the news that it has licensed Microsoft's upcoming mobile platform for its own purposes, and that the company "plans to launch several models based on Windows Phone 7 this year in the US, Europe and Asia." Of course, one of the most prominent WinPho 7 prototypes Microsoft has been trotting around this year has been a Samsung loosely based on the i8910 HD, so this should come as... well, absolutely no surprise whatsoever. Follow the break for the full press release.
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Samsung and Microsoft join forces for Windows Phone 7 products
Finalizing the Windows Phone 7 license agreement, Samsung is committed to delivering Windows Phone 7 based smartphones to the market for holiday 2010
SEOUL, KOREA – September 30, 2010 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in mobile technology, today announced the completion of an agreement to use the Windows Phone 7 platform and related application software as a key component of Samsung's smartphone portfolio.
With the signing of this contract, Samsung makes a long term commitment to including Windows Phone 7 in its smartphone portfolio. Samsung plans to launch several models based on Windows Phone 7 this year in the US, Europe and Asia.
"For years, Samsung has been a key partner in bringing new Windows phones to customers all over the world," said Steve Guggenheimer, Corporate Vice President, OEM Division at Microsoft. "Windows Phone 7 is an important release, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration with Samsung on mobile devices and beyond, with our multi-screen strategy."
WP Hong, Executive Vice President and Head of Product Strategy Team said "The addition of Windows Phone 7 smartphones to Samsung's smartphone portfolio is a significant milestone for us. Samsung's new Windows Phone 7 based smartphones will play a key role to reinforce Samsung's leadership in smartphone market. The new Windows Phone 7 smartphones will provide an unparalleled entertainment experience on the go."
Samsung's Windows Phone 7 smartphones will combine the latest hardware design and technology with Microsoft's software and innovation heritage. Using design to simplify tasks and Windows Phone hubs to organize information, Windows Phone 7 breaks the current smartphone convention with an experience that helps people more easily find and consume the data, information and services they care most about. The new phones are distinguished by unique and diverse experiences built from Microsoft's deep portfolio such as Xbox LIVE, Office, Zune, Windows Live, Bing and more.
