Windows Phone 8 to Allow More Handset Designs

With Windows Phone 7, things were pretty straightforward, as most devices packed only candybar form factors and were only touch-enabled, except for very few of them (such as the Dell Venue Pro, or HTC 7 Pro).

Apparently, new Windows Phone form factors are in the works, and Microsoft will unveil them when Windows Phone 8 is launched.

Apparently, the Redmond-based software giant is determined to bring the mobile platform to more form factors than before, and is considering both smaller and larger screens for that.

Thus, we might see Windows Phone loaded on any screens from wristwatches to large tablet PCs, a recent article on TechRadar notes.

The news site claims that Microsoft themselves confirmed plans for such diverse devices. They cite Albert Shum, the general manager of the Windows Phone Design Studio, who showed them a slide confirming that.

“If you do well not just on phone but on PC and on tablet, then your ecosystem can really live and breathe,” he said.

Microsoft hasn’t made a secret out of the fact that it plans on having its operating system loaded on tablet PCs as well. In fact, the company unveiled to the world plans on having the Windows 8 platform loaded on tablet PCs, while keeping Windows Phone to the smartphone area.

However, it appears that the mobile operating system might be loaded on tablet PCs featuring small screens in the range of 5 inches. The resolution should also be better than the one offered by HTC TITAN, a monster smartphone packing a 4.7-inch screen of a 480 by 800 resolution.

Smaller Windows Phones might also emerge, and they should be priced lower than the current family of devices. Chances are that Microsoft will go beyond that, loading Windows Phone – or a downsized form of it - on wristwatches.

For the time being, the popular Windows Phone form factor remains the full-touch candybar. However, Microsoft might be set to bring some changes in this area soon, so stay tuned for more.