Microsoft Touts Upcoming Windows Smartphones and Tablets Under $200

Seeking to succeed in the fierce competition of the budget smartphone market, Microsoft has announced cheaper smartphones running Windows Phone operating system are on the way.

Speaking to reporters at the Computex trade show in Taipei, Nick Parker, Microsoft's VP of OEM Partners, detailed company's plans to sell Windows platform smartphones and tablets for under $200, in certain markets this year, reported WSJ.

"We'll reach price points that are very industry competitive for 7, 8, 10-inch devices," Parker said, speaking to reporters after his keynote address at Computex. "They will really surprise you. Last year, we were in the 3s, 4s, 500 dollars. This year, we'll be 1s, 2s, 3s."

Further he confirmed that the smartphones and tablets prices being referred to will be end-market prices without carrier subsidies.

(Also see: Microsoft Says Cortana Will Have a Bi-Monthly Update Cycle)

Parker didn't clarify which partner manufacturers that would be bringing these Windows Phone smartphones and Windows tablets to the market. Notably, Microsoft has recently added Foxconn, Gionee, Lava (Xolo), Lenovo, LG, Longcheer, JSR, Karbonn and ZTE as partners to existing partners Nokia, Samsung, HTC and Huawei.

The company has also hinted at renewing its partnership with HTC for upcoming Windows Phone devices soon.

When Parker was asked about device partners, he had said, "I'd love to break some news here if I could. But instead I'll just say that Microsoft will continue to have a great relationship with HTC. New things are coming, so get excited."

In the Android and iOS dominated market, Windows Phone is lagging badly in terms of global smartphone market share. The new partners and cheaper smartphones to end-consumer could very well be the revival for Redmond giant in this category.