Boston, MA 01/02/2014 (wallstreetpr) – Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has seen its fortunes in mobile operating system dwindle as Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) through Android surge in the smartphone market. But even when every big smartphone company today seems to be drifting towards Android, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is not ready to just watching things happen. The company is trying hard to find allies who can manufacture Window Phone devices and the latest in the picture is Sony.
Sources familiar to the discussions between Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Sony say that the two companies could reach a deal that would add the latter to the list of Window Phone hardware manufacturers. It is even reported that the companies have designed a prototype for the potential Windows Phone device to be manufactured by Sony.
For the last four years Sony has been building Android smartphones and its deal with Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) would be seen as quite a big change in direction. It is not known what is motivating Sony to manufacturer Window Phones at a time when Android is taking the market by storm.
We can wait for more details about this deal in the coming months. However, it should be remembered that besides Sony, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is also in talks with other mobile hardware makers for the manufacture of Windows Phone powered phones. Among those being targeted is ZTE Corp which builds low-end smartphones. The company could start making Windows Phone devices for China, U.S. and Europe markets.
MSFT already has smartphone partners in HTC, LG and Acer. Broadening this partnership by bringing in more manufacturers seems to be the best approach for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) to take on Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) to unwind the popularity of Android.
Battle for smartphone platform
So far Android enjoys the most popularity in smartphones. But the app is facing a contest in the market against iOS from Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Windows Phone from Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT).
It would be a big boost for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) if Sony starts manufacturing Windows Phone devices.
Nokia deal
In attempts to promote Windows Phone, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) last year signed a deal to acquire the hardware division of the Finnish company Nokia for $7.2 billion. This deal is expected to close this year and it will turn Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) into an overnight smartphone maker.
