According to a new report, Sony may be considering releasing a Windows Phone this year.
Sony currently builds high-end Android devices under the Xperia brand name, and the report says any Sony Windows Phones may be branded under "Vaio," the electronic maker's branding for Windows laptops.
Allegedly, Sony and Microsoft/Nokia have had discussions about such a phone, and Sony has even revealed designs for a prototype.
Negotiations hinge on licensing fees and preloaded software requirements, says the report, and could fall apart.
Windows Phone continues to take global market share, albeit at a slow pace, due to Nokia's Lumia line, which can start with very good global GSM phones for as cheap as $80. Most other OEMs have dropped out of Windows Phone since Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia's hardware division.
Allegedly, Sony and Microsoft/Nokia have had discussions about such a phone, and Sony has even revealed designs for a prototype.
Negotiations hinge on licensing fees and preloaded software requirements, says the report, and could fall apart.
Windows Phone continues to take global market share, albeit at a slow pace, due to Nokia's Lumia line, which can start with very good global GSM phones for as cheap as $80. Most other OEMs have dropped out of Windows Phone since Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia's hardware division.
