Sony VAIO Windows Phone tipped for mid-2014

Sony is considering launching at least one Windows Phone handset in 2014, sources claim, as Microsoft courts potential partners to bolster support for its "third platform" OS. Sony, which has been building exclusively Android-powered smartphones for several years, is in the midst of negotiations with Microsoft about adding a second ecosystem to its range, insiders tell The Information, which could potentially launch with VAIO branding rather than the Xperia brand its existing phones carry.

That would presumably be intended to define Sony Windows Phones as an extension of the company's PC business, rather than the more consumer-centric focus Android is generally associated with. The handset could potentially launch as soon as midway through next year, assuming the deal actually goes through.

That's nowhere near certain today, however, with Microsoft and Sony still discussing things like what apps could be preloaded onto the smartphone, what licensing demands Microsoft might have, and other concerns. Microsoft is said to be potentially willing to reduce or even waive its license fees.

Sony isn't the only target for Microsoft's expansion plans. The company is supposedly also discussing partnership potential with ZTE, known for its more affordable Android devices, on a deal which could possibly see ZTE-branded low-cost Windows Phones for the US, Europe, and Chinese markets, among others.

Recent best-selling sales of the Nokia Lumia 520 and Lumia 521 might suggest that's a good strategy, too. The budget Windows Phone has comfortably outsold other handsets running the same OS, with Nokia crediting the parity of the same software experience as its more expensive handsets as a key motivator for that buying decision.

Whether that will be enough to strengthen Microsoft's position in mobile and potentially narrow the gap between Windows Phone and the two dominant OSes, Android and iOS, remains to be seen. The software company is said to be considering more unusual possibilities to tackle that, too, including dual-booting phones from Samsung and Huawei that could load into both Windows Phone and Android at the user's request.

No deal has been finalized, and neither Sony nor Microsoft will confirm that negotiations are underway.





source : slashgear

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ZTE Open Firefox OS smartphone sells out

Though it just went up for sale on Friday, the ZTE Open is already sold out on eBay after just a weekend’s availability. Both US and UK eBay stores no longer have any stock of the Firefox OS-running phone, the Telegraph reports, which means consumers will need to wait until another production run is made before they can get their hands on one. Let it be known, however, there has been no announcement as to what the original stock numbers were.

Designed to be a budget smartphone, the Open from ZTE is completely unlocked and is web-based so downloading apps isn’t necessary. It features a 1GHz processor, a 3.5-inch screen, 512MB of storage, and a 3.2-megapixel camera. Nothing fancy, but it may fill in a gap for those who want a smartphone but can’t afford the standard price tag that comes along with them.

Earlier this year, Mozilla, the creators of the Firefox web browser, announced they would be creating an a mobile operating system. The open platform made it the OS of choice for ZTE, a Chinese phone manufacturer. A vice president at Mozilla recently indicated that the Open was designed for those who have never had a smartphone before but were looking to upgrade.

Meanwhile, sales of the Open began back in July in Spain, through carrier Telefonica, though the carrier is yet to detail exactly how many have been bought. Mozilla’s initial batch of 1,000 developer units sold out in less than a day last April.

The ZTE Open retails for $79.99 in the US, which might have been an appealing point but with no more phones in stock and no indicator as to when more will be available, it’s unclear as to what real impact this phone will have.

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