Microsoft rules out building own Windows phones

A Microsoft executive has told Information Week that Redmond has no plans to manufacture Microsoft branded Windows Phone devices.

Company has already revealed that Nokia, HTC, Samsung and Huawei are working on the Windows Phone 8 devices.

The outright denial of plans to build self-branded phones shows that Microsoft still has some faith left in smartphone partners and it does not want to upset them.

"We have a strong ecosystem of partners that we are very satisfied with," Greg Sullivan, senior marketing manager for Windows Phone told Information Week.

The first rumours suggesting the Microsoft-branded phone appeared after the company decided to jump in tablet arena with Surface, which is set to come sometime this year. The tablet will be available in two versions; one powered by ARM based NVIDIA processor and Windows RT and other with Intel processor and Windows 8 Pro.