Microsoft to Load Windows Phone 7 on Cheaper Devices

Redmond-based software giant Microsoft would have its Windows Phone 7 operating system loaded on cheaper, lower-spec'd mobile phones, if some of the latest reports on the matter are to be believed.

Apparently, the company has decided to allow for more flexible hardware specifications inside mobile phones running under its mobile operating system, which would make them available for a wide user segment.

Initially, the company put in place specific hardware requirements for the said devices, which were meant to ensure that users would benefit from a great experience.

For example, all Windows Phone 7 devices had to have a 1GHz application processor inside, as well as a minimum of 8GB of internal memory, and the like.

While this indeed made the Windows Phone 7 devices quite appealing handsets, it also increased their price tags, and Microsoft might be set to change that.

There are no specific details available on what these devices would be all about, though rumor has it that Microsoft might be set to make an official announcement on this as soon as this week, during the Mix11 conference.

Some of the previous reports on the matter suggested that these mobile phones would be based on the Windows Phone Chassis 2, and that they might pack 800MHz processors.

Allowing for lower-spec's devices to be launched on shelves would offer manufacturers like Nokia the possibility to target the mid-level of the market with their devices, or even to bring low-end Windows Phone smartphones on shelves.

However, nothing was confirmed on this for the time being, and we should wait for a formal announcement to be made to learn more on the matter.

Hopefully, Microsoft would indeed make the announcement this week at MIX11, where it put in place a series of yet unannounced Windows Phone sessions.

At the conference, the company is also expected to unveil more on Internet Explorer 9 Mobile, as well as on the next Windows Phone update, on Silverlight for the mobile OS, and more.