Andre Yoskowitz
12 Sep 2012 21:29
According to a Sony exec, the company is considering the Windows Phone platform for future smartphones.
Sony Mobile currently uses Android with Sony's own user interface overlay but has at least begun investigating into an alternative.
"Sony's strategy is one of openness. Microsoft is a Sony partner with the likes of our Vaio laptops and it is integrated onto our tablets. As far as Xperia smartphones go, Android remains the preferred partner, although Sony is not a single partner company. We are currently investigating with the likes of Microsoft the possibility of diversifying our product strategy," added Pierre Perron, managing director of Sony Mobile in the UK and Ireland.
Waiting until Windows Phone 8 could be a smart move for Sony, as Windows Phone 7 (and 7.5) have not been very successful, especially due to features that lagged behind established mobile operating systems like Android and iOS. Windows Phone 8 is expected to bridge the gap significantly and has created buzz before its launch in early November.
Windows Phone 8 has also been expanded to 50 languages and the Marketplace has been opened to 182 countries, making it more intriguing for app developers.