Windows 8 beta, new Windows Phone handsets from Nokia

Jan 4, 2012 16:07 GMT  ·  By

With 2011 already history, we’re all looking forward to learning more on what Microsoft has in store for us during the ongoing year.

Of course, we already have a general idea of what is about to happen, but specific details on products, launch dates and the like have yet to emerge.

At least two Microsoft products will be in the spotlight this year, namely Windows Phone and Windows 8, though Bing or Xbox won’t be left aside either.

In January, as soon as next week, we might see a new set of Windows Phone devices from Nokia made official and on their way to the United States market.

The handsets are expected to be launched during the Computer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The event will also mark the departure of Microsoft from CES. Starting next year, the company will no longer keynote at the fare.

In February, we should see the Beta flavor of Windows 8 being delivered for public download.

The upcoming platform release was announced for late February, and might coincide with the launch of Windows Server 8 beta.

According to liveside.net, the event might be related to the Mobile World Congress conference that will take place in Barcelona between February 27th and March 1st. Windows Phone 8 might also be present in the announcement, following last year’s presence of Windows Phone 7 at the event.

In the March-April timeframe, we should see a new developer conference taking place, either Mix or Build. One way or the other, we might expect additional details on Windows 8 to emerge at that time.

Following this conference, we might hear additional details on Xbox in June at E3. Windows Phone and Windows 8 might get detailed as well.

The first six months of 2012 should be quite busy, equaled only by the amount of events that Microsoft has in store during the second half of the year. Windows 8 and tablet PCs powered by it should arrive then.