14 DAY TRIAL // We already know Microsoft is expected to launch at least one mid-range Windows Phone handset in the first quarter of the year, but it's still unclear which device will be unveiled first.
Rumor has it that the Redmond-based company has about three phones in the pipelines: Lumia 650, Lumia 750, and Lumia 850. Aside from the Lumia 650, none of the other smartphones has been confirmed by Microsoft yet.
There have been many reports in the past about various Nokia-branded smartphones certified with different model numbers.
For example, a certain Nokia RM-1182 was spotted not long ago in Indonesia while the RM-1152 has been approved in the United States.
Today, the same RM-1182 device branded as a Microsoft Mobile smartphone has just received its certification in China.
This is just another step that will allow the Redmond-based company to launch its mid-range Windows Phone handset on one of the world's largest smartphone markets, China.
The Chinese version of the smartphone won't come with fast charging
Since Microsoft's RM-1182 has already been approved in the United States, there's a high chance that the smartphone will be unveiled very soon.
As NPU points out, the RM-1182 has been certified in China on December 28, so it does seem to be a very new device that's likely to make its debut in the coming weeks.
The smartphone that appears in the official document that leaked online mentions a China Unicom version of RM-1182, which does not seem to support fast charging. Aside from that, there aren't any details on the phone's specs.
The next significant event that Microsoft might use to announce some of its smartphones powered by Windows 10 Mobile operating system is Mobile World Congress 2016, which is scheduled to kick off in late February.
Samsung confirmed it would launch its Galaxy S7 flagship smartphones a few days ahead of Microsoft, but the latter has yet to announce its own event at MWC 2016 trade fair.