The Lumia 900 launch a month ago has been not only good for Nokia and Microsoft, its been good for the phone"s exclusive US wireless carrier AT&T. Now the head of the company"s wireless division says that he is "upbeat" about Microsoft"s chances in the smartphone market and that Windows 8 will actually help boost sales of Windows Phone.
ZDNet.com reports that during a speech this week at the JP Morgan technology conference, Ralph de la Vega, the CEO of AT&T Mobility, had nothing but praise for both Windows Phone and the Lumia 900, saying, "The operating system works really well. It is simple, it is easy to use, it is intuitive. The reception to the Lumia launch has actually exceeded our expectations."
He added that he felt that Windows Phone had "a very good chance" of being able to compete with the two dominate smartphone operating systems, Apple"s iOS and Google"s Android. However, he also spoke about the launch of Windows 8, where he gave a launch time period:
When they come out with Windows 8 in the fourth quarter, I think it will actually add to the value that that OS brings to the marketplace, in that that will be the first time that you can truly have a similar experience on your PC, on your tablet, and on your smartphone from Microsoft. From what I have seen and the previews that I have been given, I think it is going to be exceptionally good. I am very upbeat in what they are bringing to the market.
So far, Microsoft has yet to give a specific release date for Windows 8, other than it"s due for launch by the end of 2012. The Release Preview version of Windows 8 is due out sometime in the first week of June.