Microsoft won’t ditch Samsung, HTC, and other Windows Phone 8 partners despite Nokia purchase

Microsoft may have purchased the smartphone development might of Nokia, but that doesn’t mean it will turn its back on the likes of Samsung and HTC when it comes to Windows Phone 8 support.

Last night Microsoft confirmed that it had agreed to buy Nokia’s devices and services arms for £4.6bn. This means that Microsoft will soon have the capacity to design and build its own high-end Windows Phone 8 smartphones.

However, this doesn’t mean that it will be ending its relationships with third party smartphone manufacturers such as HTC (which contributed the HTC 8X, pictured) and Samsung, both of whom have developed Windows Phone devices in recent years.

Microsoft EVP for Operating Systems Terry Myerson was quick to post a blog entry assuring Microsoft’s partners and customers that it would maintain Windows Phone 8 as an open platform.

“Acquiring Nokia’s Devices group will help make the market for all Windows Phones, from Microsoft or our OEM partners,” said Myerson.

“Our partners bring innovation, diversity and scale to Windows,” he added, before pointing to a “breadth of choice in form factor, finish and materials that deliver unique devices at a variety of price points.”

Myerson then proceeded to attempt head off any worries over discretion and favouritism that such third party manufacturers might have. “We collaborate with our Microsoft hardware teams in the same way we partner with our external hardware partners: we discreetly discuss technical and business opportunities,” he explained.

The message is pretty clear, then. Microsoft might have bought the company responsible for an estimated 80 percent of Windows Phone device sales, but Microsoft still needs that other 20 percent to carry the smartphone fight to Apple and Google.

Next, read our Nokia Lumia 925 review