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Microsoft confirms co marketing with handset partners, rubbishes reported numbers

Microsoft confirms co-marketing with handset partners, rubbishes reported numbers

By Ketan Pratap | Updated: 10 June 2016 19:11 IST

Microsoft has responded to the reports alleging the Redmond giant offered large incentives (a reported total of $2.6 billion) to popular OEMs like Samsung, Sony, Huawei and others to make a Windows Phone device in 2014.

Microsoft's communications lead, Frank X. Shaw has confirmed on Twitter that the company does do "co-marketing" with its partners, but did not name any companies, or amounts paid out to promote products. Instead, Shaw rubbished the reported size of the incentives as 'complete fiction'. The tweet said, "reality check. Do we do co-marketing with partners? You bet! But these numbers are complete fiction!"

The numbers in question were from Mobile Review's Eldar Murtazin, a tipster who claimed Microsoft offered Samsung $1.2 billion, Sony $0.5 billion; Huawei $0.6 billion and others $0.3 billion in incentives to make at least one Windows Phone device in 2014. His tweet with the tip read: "Windows phone 8 in 2014 - Samsung 1.2 bln USD, Sony 0.5 bln, Huawei 0.6 bln, others - 0.3 bln. Thats "support" from MS to develop one (1!)hs."

There's no doubt Windows Phone platform has been struggling to catch up with Apple and Google's mobile platforms, and Nokia seems to be the only OEM supporting its cause. With Microsoft acquiring Nokia's mobile device and services division, it does seem quite plausible the Redmond giant would be doing all it could to woo more OEM partners to the Windows Phone ecosystem.

We have been hearing reports that Samsung and Sony might soon join the Windows Phone brigade with their respective devices. A Samsung device dubbed SM-W750V was spotted in a Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) listing, and also on the UA profile, which has been accessible at company's mobile official site.

Sony has reportedly also been considering launching a Windows Phone device, in an attempt to move away from being a single operating system handset maker. Pierre Perron, head of Sony Mobile Europe, confirmed that the company was in talks with Microsoft, amongst other partners.

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Further reading: Huawei, Microsoft, Mobiles, Samsung, Sony, Windows Phone, Windows Phone 8, bluetooth sig

Ketan Pratap

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Ketan Pratap is the editor at Gadgets 360 - with over 12 years of experience covering the technology domain. With a breadth and depth of knowledge in the field, he's done extensive work across news, features, reviews, and opinion pieces. But what's truly inspiring about Ketan is how he spends his free time. He's often found gazing at snow-capped mountains from over 20,000 feet while sitting on the hood of his car, taking in the breathtaking beauty of nature. His passion for the great ...More