Continuing the impressive growth of the Windows Phone ecosystem we are excited more partners are unveiling Windows Phone devices. In the past year we have worked with 25 partners to bring 31 Windows Phone models to market.
A broader, stronger ecosystem is good for everyone. Customers can count on a consistent Windows experience across any device, while having the ability to choose from a wide range of designs, sizes, price points, capabilities, services and solutions offered by our hardware partners.
We’re welcoming new partners with new devices on new networks with broader global coverage in every region. At MWC in particular, we’ve seen a wave of new mobile broadband devices including phones, tablets and notebooks. This is an exciting time for us and for our partners.
Kicking off the news earlier this week, our British-based mobile partner KAZAM announced new Windows tablets and Phones. The KAZAM Thunder 450W and 450WL are their two new Windows Phone 8.1 smartphones and they include Microsoft services like OneNote and OneDrive so users can sync files across devices.
Also announced ahead of MWC is the next Windows Phone from XOLO for the India market. The Win Q1000 comes with 1.2 GHz Quad Core Snapdragon Processor and 1GB RAM to ensure quick switching between favorite apps and games without any lag.
We have worked with Philippine-based Cherry Mobile on their previous Windows Phones and we are glad to see their next generation of devices that includes the 5″ Alpha Neon and 6″ Alpha View devices announced during MWC.
We also have the pleasure of working with new Windows Phone partners including K Touch, Coship and Acer.
Microsoft partnered with the Chinese mobile phone manufacturer, K-touch to release two new Windows Phones: K-touch 5757A and K-touch E8. The 4.5-inch 5757A Windows Phone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processer and supports TDD-LTE, WCDMA, EVDO, and GSM, and it will also have the FDD-LTE version to meet the international market’s needs.
Microsoft has also been working more closely with ODMs to expand the Windows device portfolio. An example of this work is Coship Mobile who unveiled its first Windows Phone 8.1 device, the BVC X1, a 4G LTE smartphone available in Europe, the United States and Asia for OEM partners. We will help facilitate connections between ODMs, OEMs and retailors to bring this device to market.
Another first and very exciting announcement comes from our long-time partner, Acer. Today, they unveiled the Liquid M220 Windows Phone for the EMEA market. This 4-inch 233 pixels per inch (PPI) display, 5MP auto-focus main and 2MP front cameras and elegant design will come to market in April.
While smartphones and other small devices are poised to take center stage at MWC, some of our PC partners are also making big news. Today, Lenovo announced the MIIX Windows Tablets for the European market. The Lenovo IdeaPad MIIX 300 offers the extreme portability of an 8-in tablet and proves productivity can come in any size with Office applications (1 year subscription included).
Finally, we are excited to see HP reveal the new Spectre x360 and Spectre Pro x360. These devices bring the beauty of the Spectre line and the functionality of a 13.3” convertible PC together in one amazing device. When asked about the new Windows 2-in-1 device, Mike Nash, vice president, portfolio strategy and customer experience, Personal Systems at HP said, “Customers told us that for a mobile PC to truly be the center of their life, it needs to deliver exceptional quality while combining an uncompromised, powerful experience with tablet capabilities. Starting with an innovative industrial design, we worked closely with Microsoft to curate the hardware and software in the HP Spectre x360 to offer customers the versatility, quality and power they crave.”
It’s great to see the continued device innovation from our hardware partners across the Windows ecosystem. We continue to work closely with our hardware partners to design and build devices, across categories and price points that will take advantage of the new capabilities and experiences that Windows 10 will enable.
For more information on all the devices announced by Microsoft partners, see a slideshow and product images on our News Center.