Samsung's Windows Phone 8 strategy: take on Nokia – with recycled Android devices?

Samsung is apparently looking to switch up their Windows Phone game later this year by introducing several Windows Phone 8-based smartphones and Windows 8-based tablets, reports Australian website Smarthouse, adding to previous rumors that have indicated a Samsung Windows Phone 8 device based on the Galaxy S III.

The new report, which quotes a senior executive from Samsung, suggests that the company is specifically aiming at Nokia with a “very clear” strategy that includes two Windows 8 tablets with screen sizes of 11″ and 14″, and, alongside the aforementioned Galaxy S III variant, a Galaxy Note equivalent as well. At 5.3 inches and with support for a custom stylus, it’s not known yet inhowfar Windows Phone 8 is going to support these features natively or being opened for customization by OEMs.

The new Samsung Windows smartphone offering will be branded Focus and will sit alongside the Samsung Galaxy offering.

SmartHouse has been told the Company will also launch two Windows tablets and a Windows based Note offering.

Even though the report is quite bullish about Samsung’s strategy, we can’t see how recycled Galaxy Android devices, as good as they may be, can compete with Nokia’s arguably higher-quality offerings. Just looking at the current Windows Phone landscape, the Focus S, which is based on the Galaxy S II, has been virtually forgotten with all the buzz surrounding the Lumia 800, 900 and even HTC’s Titan and Radar devices.

If Samsung is really trying to make a splash with Windows Phone, they’ll have to do better than that – at least getting the “Focus” brand out of the US, as the rest-of-the-world is still stuck with the Omnia brand name. What do our readers think?

Source: Smarthouse