Microsoft might rebrand Windows Phone, new images suggest

 

Microsoft may be planning to drop the word "Phone" from its future Windows Phone smartphones, with at least one phone maker already doing so.

 

Windows enthusiast site Neowin cited images of the British-made GoFone by My Go, which referred to its product as simply the "Windows GoFone."
 

"Hosted on that microsite is a cluster of high-resolution images for retailers that will eventually offer the device when it launches, and among those images is one very interesting picture of the rear of the handset. The image shows the device bearing the 'Windows' logo - which appears to be the first time that an official product shot from a Microsoft partner has shown a handset with this logo, rather than that of Windows Phone," Neowin said.

 

The My Go microsite featuring the supposed Windows GoFone was still live as of Monday afternoon, Philippine time.

 

It had the header, "CONFIDENTIAL Internal Use Only."

 

A search of the site for "go phone" would also yield a "confidential" press release dated Aug. 4 for the GoFone.

 

"Life is full of people, events, music, photos, and videos. A Windows GoFone lets you enjoy it all everywhere you go…" read part of the article on the microsite.

 

It also indicated the phone runs on Windows Phone 8.1 and uses a 4.7-inch multi-touchscreen display.

 

Neowin noted leaked documents earlier suggested Microsoft was planning to change some branding for its mobile devices.

 

Citing the documents, it said the Nokia brand is being phased out but the Windows Phone brand is also being dropped.

 

"The changes come as Microsoft shifts its focus to a single Windows brand - one Windows platform for all devices and form factors. Microsoft has not publicly announced - or even acknowledged - that these plans are in the works but we have confirmed them with well-placed sources," Neowin said.

 

Meanwhile, The Verge said the shift to "Windows" may be a move by Microsoft for a combined version of Windows RT and Windows Phone due next year.

 

"As the future operating system will run across phones and small tablets, it wouldn't make sense keeping the Windows Phone brand for devices that are clearly not phones. Microsoft is also dropping the Nokia brand from its future Lumia handsets, and the company is phasing out its Nokia marketing this holiday season in favor of Windows and Lumia," it said. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News