Windows Phone 7 models coming from Sony Ericsson

A report in DigiTimes says that even though Sony Ericsson's 2011 handsets will favor the Android OS, a number of Windows Phone 7 devices are already "in the pipeline". Using technology from the Sony Bravia line of televisions and from the Sony PSP, a buzz has already been circulating around the Sony Ericsson Xperia arc and the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY. With both phones coming to market with Android 2.3 installed, there should be no worries about an upgrade from Google. The joint venture had problems upgrading the Xperia X10 in a timely manner and recently it was announced that the handset would not be upgraded past Android 2.1.

Sony Ericsson's fourth quarter shipments dropped 23% year-over-year due to a lack of new models. The joint venture is expected to introduce new flagship offerings in the first half of this year, according to DigiTimes, which explains some of the decline. It might be this dearth of new models that led Sony Ericsson to explore using Microsoft's OS. No information has been released as to possible specs of the Windows Phone 7 devices. Despite this lack of evidence, the manufacturer is interested in an alternative to Android. As Sony Ericsson's CTO, Jan Uddenfelt, said in September, "Android is definitely our focus, but we have not given up on Microsoft’s Windows Mobile operating system, although it had a bit slow to take off. But Windows 7 Phone is on the roadmap."

Whether it is "on the roadmap" or "In the pipeline", it looks pretty certain that some Sony Ericsson branded Windows Phone 7 handsets are coming to market probably sometime this year. Excited by this prospect? Let us know by giving us your opinion in the comments box below.

source: DigiTimes via BGR