Lenovo is partnering with Microsoft to launch its first Windows phone 8.1 device later this year.
Lui Jun, President of Lenovo’s Mobile Division, confirmed the news in an interview with the the German website mobilegeeks.de.
Microsoft had announced its plans to expand the reach of its Windows Phone OS at MWC in February. The software giant plans to do this by partnering with nine manufacturers, one of which is Lenovo.
No details regarding the specs of the upcoming smartphone are currently available, but it is likely that it will target the mid to lower tier sectors as Windows Phones are gradually becoming more popular in emerging markets.
It should help boost Microsoft’s presence in huge Asian markets such as India and China. The latter comprises Lenovo’s best-selling market and accounted for almost two-fifths of its $38.7 billion total revenues for 2013.
Elsewhere, the company also recently announced that its profits and sales have increased globally by 29% due to strong smartphone sales. The upcoming completion of its Motorola Mobility acquisition from Google should only boost that figure.
Microsoft recently announced that it is giving away its Windows Phone OS free of charge on devices with screens under nine inches, in a bid to expand the floundering OS’ outreach.
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