Lenovo to launch Windows Phone unit in 2012

Lenovo has joined the list of companies making smartphones that run Microsoft's Windows Phone operating system, a tech site reported.

 

The company plans to launch a Windows Phone handset in the second half of 2012, Engadget quoted a Lenovo official as saying.

 

"Product manager Chen Yue told (Engadget's) iMobile that Lenovo's now aiming to release a Windows Phone in the second half of next year. Well, that was apparently all Mr. Chen revealed -- no specs, no prices, and no mention of international launch," Engadget reported.

 

It noted Lenovo boasts a mere total of 700,000 phone units sold since the original LePhone debuted in May last year.

 

On the other hand, Engadget pointed out Nokia is likely to enjoy a "nice head start" in China with its Lumia 800, which was launched earlier this year.

 

A separate article on The Next Web said Nokia's Lumia 800 is heading to China in the next few months, "so the Windows Phone push into the country will begin long before the Lenovo entry hits consumers’ hands."

 

The Next Web said Windows Phone had enjoyed a solid past quarter, with a smooth release of the Mango update, strong hardware releases, and improving sales.

 

"Of course, all eyes will be on what Microsoft discloses after the holidays, and whether the handsets can in fact move unit numbers that impress. After all, if not, the developer pool that Microsoft has worked with vigor to build could yet dry up. Microsoft simply cannot allow that to happen," it said. — TJD, GMA News