New Windows Phone Devices on Shelves by Christmas

Last week, Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO, said at the Imagine Cup 2011 event that the company is gearing up for bringing the next Windows Phone devices on shelves before the end of the ongoing year, and mentioned Christmas as the reference point for their availability.

What this means is that users will be able to purchase the new Windows Phones during the holiday season, just as they did last year.

Basically, the new Windows Phone-powered handsets, running under the new flavor of the OS, codenamed Mango, will be on the market in the November-December time frame, just as previously expected.

Most probably, the same as last year, Microsoft will try to have the new devices ready for launch sometime in October, so that they would start shipping before the holiday season kicks off.

“Windows Phone. You know, a year ago we didn't have a phone in the market. Now, we're charging forward with Nokia. We have the second generation of our phones coming out this Christmas, and people are starting to do things they had never imagined before,” Ballmer stated.

“I love the applications that I saw for the Windows Phone from the people in this room, and the way you're pushing that device, and using that device. It was really exciting for me.”

The Redmond-based software giant unveiled the new Windows Phone Mango OS flavor not too long ago, promising a number of over 500 enhancements for its users.

When released, the new platform flavor would bring along improvements throughout menus and applications, as well as various performance enhancements and a great deal of new features.

The second generation Windows Phone devices will arrive on shelves from leading handset vendors like HTC, Samsung, LG, or Nokia. The Finnish company is the latest major manufacturer to have joined the Windows Phone party, and should begin shipping Windows Phone devices in volume next year.