Microsoft not planning to launch a smartphone

Microsoft has confirmed that it will not launch its own branded smartphone, but Windows 7 will require the hardware of smartphones to be re-designed.

James McCarthy, Business Marketing Manager at Microsoft confirmed that Windows 7 will be launched for mobile next year, and it will require a whole new hardware platform, completely different to anything we've seen so far.

Although McCarthy didn't comment on who would produce the new device, although he said that Microsoft are in talks with a number of manufacturers and networks to produce devices.

The consumer-based upgrade to Windows Phone 6.5 will not simply be for bug-fixes and tweaks - McCarthy hinted that it would be a whole new platform and Windows 6.5 will co-exist with Windows Phone 7. There may well be updates to 6.5 in the future to address any bugs that pop up after launch in October.

Although we can expect Windows 7 to make its debut next year, there's no word on when it will be.

"When Windows Phone 7 is launched is up to the OEMs [manufacturers] and networks, but it will be next year," said McCarthy.