Official claims Samsung might again look at WP this year

Jan 12, 2015 07:58 GMT  ·  By

Samsung and Microsoft continue their legal dispute over a possible breach of a contract between the two on Android royalties, but the Korean company is really playing its cards right and has recently made an offer that would be really difficult to turn down by the Redmond software giant.

According to a report by Korea Times and citing a Samsung official, the Korean manufacturer might again look at Windows Phone this year if Microsoft agrees to settle the lawsuit.

Basically, Samsung, which has already built Windows Phone 8.1 devices, could expand its series of phones running Microsoft’s mobile operating system if the two companies reach an agreement and settle the legal action that accuses the Koreans of not paying royalties for the Android technologies they licensed from Microsoft.

Samsung could build Windows Phone 10 devices

According to the report, if this plan goes through, Samsung might be back in the Windows Phone business in the third quarter of this year, which means that its new devices could actually be powered by Windows 10 Mobile, the next smartphone operating system that Microsoft is already working on and could launch in the fall of 2015.

And still, Samsung is also very interested in building Windows Phone devices, the source claims, especially because this would help the company expand in low-end markets.

"Samsung has run pilot programs on the stability of Windows 8.1 software on devices. It is interested in promoting Windows mobiles. If the companies settle their litigation, then Samsung will manufacture handsets powered by the Microsoft-developed mobile platform," a company official was quoted as saying

"The timing could be the third quarter of this year at the earliest. By releasing a Windows mobile, Samsung could manage its phone business in the low-, mid-, to premium-end sectors."

As things seem to develop right now, Microsoft is very likely to settle the dispute, especially because it needs Samsung, which continues to be the number one Android device manufacturer, in the Windows Phone club, so expect an announcement on this anytime soon.

We’ve also reached out to Microsoft for some official comments on this and will update the article when we get an answer.