Is Sony preparing to unveil a Windows Phone?

By David Nield January 12, 2014

sony preparing unveil windows phone win — Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re a fan of Sony, or Windows Phone, or indeed both, then you’ll be interested in the news that the consumer electronics giant is considering launching a device with Microsoft’s mobile OS on board. Pierre Perron, head of Sony Mobile Europe, has said that discussions are ongoing with Microsoft in regards to getting a Sony-branded handset out into the wild.

“We are continuing our discussions with other partners, including Microsoft, as part of our partnership with this company on the broader Sony spectrum,” Perron told TechRadar. “One thing is using the platform [Windows Phone] itself, and another is ‘what can we deliver on top of it’?”

Sony and Windows Phone do have history — the 2008 Xperia X1 handset ran Windows Mobile, but since then Sony has focused exclusively on Android for its mobile phones. A major Windows Phone 8.1 update is expected to be announced in April, and while a Sony device could arrive as part of the launch, no specific timeframe has been given.

“We don’t want to be a single OS manufacturer, I don’t think it’s a viable position in the long term,” said Perron. “We enjoy very much a good collaboration with Google, we’ve been working with them for a long time and have a level of maturity with that discussion, that’s good. But at the same time, Google has a relationship with direct competitors.”

It’s not the first time the rumor mill has linked Sony with Windows Phone, and it’s not quite a full confirmation that a device is on the way. Nevertheless it makes sense for Microsoft to try and expand beyond the Nokia-based beachhead that it’s established, as it takes on the might of Android and iOS.

Editors' Recommendations

Contributor

Dave is a freelance journalist from Manchester in the north-west of England. He's been writing about technology since the…

Mobile

How to find your phone number on iPhone or Android

Someone holding up an iPhone 14 to their ear.

Let's face it: Most of us don't call our own phones very often. If you're like most people, this means you probably don't know your own phone number off-hand, especially if you rarely give it out to people or haven't had it for long, such as after setting up a new account or changing your number after moving to a new town.

To make things even more complicated, many modern smartphones let you set up more than one line using an eSIM, which gives you more than one number to remember.

Mobile

5 phones you should buy instead of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus

A Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus laying on concrete.

Looking to upgrade your phone this year? You may be considering Samsung’s new Galaxy S24 Plus, which is the middle child of the S24 lineup. Given how solid the S24 Plus is, that's not a bad idea at all.

But is the Galaxy S24 Plus the best phone you can get? Maybe not, as there are plenty of other great choices that you can choose from as well. Here are some of the best alternatives to the Galaxy S24 Plus that you should take a look at before spending your hard-earned dollars.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Mobile

The Honor Magic 6 RSR is my new favorite Android phone of 2024

Someone holding the Honor Magic 6 RSR outside.

There's no doubt that 2024 has already been an exciting year for Android phones. Samsung wowed us with the Galaxy S24 series at the beginning of the year, the OnePlus 12 and 12R are two of the best phones available right now, and Google is expected to impress later this month with the Google Pixel 8a.

But for the last few weeks, I haven't been thinking about any of those phones. Why? Because I've been using the Honor Magic 6 RSR. After launching in China this past March, the Magic 6 RSR is now available in the EU, and that's allowed more folks than ever to get their hands on the phone. And that's great, because the Honor Magic 6 RSR has quickly become my new favorite Android phone of 2024.
It has some of 2024's best smartphone hardware