Samsung debuts first Windows phone

BERLIN - Samsung Electronics became the first handset maker to announce a smartphone using Microsoft's latest mobile software, making its surprise, hurried announcement just days before the highly-anticipated launch of Nokia's version.

The new Samsung ATIV S smartphone. REUTERS

The announcement yesterday at a Berlin electronics show comes amid expectations that smartphone makers may turn increasingly to Windows devices after a United States jury decided many of Samsung's Google Android-based phones infringed Apple patents.

"It looks like a good phone, and seems like a pre-emptive announcement ahead of Nokia," said Mr Sid Parakh, an analyst at investment firm McAdams Wright Ragen.

"Microsoft or Windows never got (Samsung's) best teams, never got their best designs, because Android was doing so well. With the change in the legal environment, there's a case to be made that Samsung will likely shift some of those resources to broaden out or diversify their own exposure."

Nokia, once the world's leading producer of phones but now struggling to reverse losses, is due to unveil its new Lumia line of smartphones using Windows Phone 8 in New York on Sept 5.

Samsung's new phone called ATIV S - tacked onto the end of a long news conference in Berlin that focused on other products - may elevate expectations for the Lumia. Samsung's ATIV S Windows phone sports a high-end 4.8-inch display, Corning "Gorilla" glass, and an 8-megapixel rear camera and 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera, Microsoft posted on its official blog yesterday.

"Expectations for a 40-megapixel or possibly 20-megapixel camera model are running high," said Mr Tero Kuittinen, analyst at mobile analytics firm Alekstra.

"If Nokia does not unveil a monster camera handset next week, many will be disappointed." REUTERS

Sourrce: www.todayonline.com