Samsung Planning to Launch Windows Phone Handsets This Year: Report

Samsung appears to be showing an inclination towards the Windows Phone operating system, as it is reportedly testing the Windows Phone 8.1's stability on its own devices.

As per the latest report, Samsung is planning to launch budget-priced smartphones running Windows Phone 8.1. "Samsung has run pilot programs on the stability of Windows 8.1 software on devices. It is interested in promoting Windows mobiles," said one of the sources close to the matter to Korea Times.

Microsoft and Samsung are currently battling each other in a lawsuit, which is said to be the only hurdle in launching the budget Samsung devices running Windows Phone 8.1. According to the report, the two companies are yet to resolve the dispute between them regarding the lawsuit that happened last year.

An unnamed official is quoted to have said, "If the companies settle their litigation, then Samsung will manufacture handsets powered by the Microsoft-developed mobile platform. The timing could be the third quarter of this year at the earliest."

To recall, Microsoft sued Samsung in August, accusing it of breaching a collaboration agreement by initially refusing to make royalty payments after the US company announced its intention to acquire Nokia's handset business in September 2013.

The lawsuit claimed Samsung still owed $6.9 million (roughly Rs. 42 crores) in interest on more than $1 billion (roughly Rs. 6,184 crores) in patent royalties it delayed paying. The US judge in November rejected Samsung Electronics Co Ltd's bid to put Microsoft Corp's lawsuit over smartphone patent royalties on hold.

"If the companies settle their litigation, then Samsung will manufacture handsets powered by the Microsoft-developed mobile platform," the anonymous official said. "The timing could be the third quarter of this year at the earliest."

The move is said to come after Samsung's failed attempt to popularize its Tizen OS, which it made by the help of Intel. "This year, Samsung will promote the Tizen platform, but the main focus will be TVs, not mobile devices. By releasing a Windows mobile, Samsung could manage its phone business in the low-, mid-, to premium-end sectors," further added the official.