Sony may enter with windows phones in to market

Sony is considering launching a Windows Phone sometime next year, according to a new report from The Information. If true, such a move would break Sony's current loyalty to Android and give Nokia some fresh competition in the Windows Phone segment. Both sides have reportedly held numerous discussions, with Sony going so far as to draw up designs for a prototype device. Any future product could be branded under Sony's Vaio line, according to The Information.

Nokia has been the largest Windows Phone hardware partner thus far. This is why Microsoft acquired Nokia’s devices and service businesses this past September for $7.2 billion. Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia has not deterred Sony from holding the Windows Phone discussions. The talks carried on even after the acquisition announcement was made. The deal is not yet finalized as the two companies still have to negotiate licensing fees and preloaded software agreements.

Sony is not the only company that Microsoft is talking to about expanding into Windows Phone products. Microsoft is also negotiating with Chinese telecommunications company, ZTE Corporation. ZTE would likely build low-end Windows Phone smartphones in the U.S., Europe and China. Some of Microsoft’s other smartphone hardware partners includes Acer, HTC and LG.

A Windows Phone device would certainly allow Sony to widen its options in the mobile phone market but it does seem like an odd move particularly because of Sony’s focus on Android so far. Even its non-phone devices, like the SmartWatch 2, do not currently support Windows Phone, meaning that at least a few changes would have to be made for Sony to easily fit a Windows Phone device into the lineup.

Any uptick in sales for Windows Phone devices is good news for Microsoft. Not only would a Vaio-branded Windows Phone smartphone bring a per-sale fee to Microsoft but it would also bring more attention to the platform, creating interest among consumers as well as developers.

Creating any extra incentives for developers to create apps for Windows Phone is vital to the survival of the platform and Sony’s involvement could help with that.

As for Sony, the company is reportedly still negotiating licensing terms with Microsoft. Should the two ultimately hammer out an agreement, Sony would market the Windows Phone device under its VAIO brand, though no other details about the hardware are yet known.

Microsoft can use all the help it can get. The company's Windows Phone platform is in a distant third place behind Android and iOS in terms of market share. Furthermore, around 9 out of every 10 Windows Phone handset is built by Nokia. A little diversity here certainly couldn't hurt.