Sony could launch a Windows Phone device in mid-2014: Report

Engadget, in a report citing The Information, has revealed that Microsoft is in talks with Sony for launching a smartphone based on Windows Phone OS. The report claims that Sony might launch a Windows Phone device in mid-2014 as part of its Vaio line-up, under which the company has traditionally launched Windows-based notebooks, desktops and media centres.

Further, the report informs that the Redmond giant is also in talks with Chinese handset maker ZTE for renewing its interest in Windows Phone platform. However, the report clearly mentions that Microsoft's talks with both Sony and ZTE are yet to reach any conclusion.

An earlier report had suggested that Microsoft, in an attempt to promote its mobile and tablet ecosystem, has been considering offering free versions of Windows Phone and Windows RT to device makers. The report had claimed that free future versions of Windows Phone and Windows RT for device makers were under serious consideration by Microsoft's executive vice president of operating systems, Terry Myerson.

It's worth pointing out that Nokia dominates the Windows Phone platform with 90 percent market share, with its closest competitor, HTC at 7 percent share, while Samsung and Huawei have 1.8 and 1.3 percent market share each, respectively. A recent statistics report by AdDuplex revealed that Nokia's strategy of pushing Lumia smartphones in various price segments has been helping the company in taking the lead in terms of global Windows Phone market share.