Microsoft Eyeing Own Phone in 2011

Microsoft - who so far has toed the line of staying away from the hardware part of mobile phones might just reverse its stand. According to new reports we're hearing, Microsoft is partnering with Asus to make a Microsoft phone ala the Google Nexus One.

Microsoft, whose hardware venture was limited to the Zune, the Xbox'es and the Mouse and Keyboards of the world, will now expand its horizon in to the big bad world of mobile phones. However, the company won't venture alone. Like Google partnered with HTC for Android smartphone, Microsoft is likely to partner with Taiwanese hardware major Asus for this venture. Incidentally, the prototype device displayed at the Windows Phone 7 Series launch during Mobile World Congress 2010 was made by Asus. Hopefully, the device that Asus and Microsoft end up making turns out to be as good as the one on display.

This phone is likely to arrive by early 2011 and will of course run Windows Phone 7 Series. We also have reason to believe that by the time this Microsoft phone arrives, the market would be relatively crowded with other Windows Phone 7 Series handsets from manufacturers like HTC, Sony Ericsson, Samsung and LG.