Microsoft has announced that two new OEMs will come on-board to make Windows Phone devices. Blu and K-Touch are the two new manufacturers that have partnered with Microsoft to bring Windows Phone devices.
You might not have heard much about Blu and K-Touch but they might play an important role if Windows Phone is to gain more traction. Blu is an Android smartphone maker in the US and they have doing quite well selling affordable Android smartphones. K-Touch is an OEM plus an ODM, which manufactures devices for other companies.
There’s only a single major Windows Phone manufacturer as of now and that is Nokia (Microsoft Mobile) but with Windows Phone 8.1, Microsoft has been bringing more manufacturers on-board to support their mobile platform. Microsoft has also made Windows free for devices below the 9-inch mark, effectively making Windows Phone free and that might have resulted in more makers wanting to build Windows Phone devices. Microsoft announced new partners at MWC and also at its Build conference.
The number of OEMs currently on-board for Window Phone 8 is 17 including Microsoft’s now acquired Nokia’s devices division. The list includes Nokia (Microsoft Mobile), Samsung, HTC, Huawei, ZTE, Foxconn, Micromax, Xolo, Karbonn. Lenovo, Gionee, BLU, JSR, LG, Longcheer, Prestigio, K-Touch.
With the first Windows Phone 8.1 smartphone in the form of Lumia 630 just launched, we can expect more Windows Phone 8.1 devices in the near future.
