Motorola is open to Windows Phone 7

MOBILE DEVICE MAKER Motorola has expressed interest in a deal with Microsoft and its Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system (OS).

At the Oppenheimer Technology & Communications Conference in Boston, Sanjay Jha, chairman and CEO of Motorola spoke of the firm's openness to a deal with Microsoft for Windows Phone 7.

When questioned on the subject Jha said, "I think we're completely open to the notion of Windows as a platform"

"I would have to consider whether defocusing from Android to Windows will be the right thing for us to do, but if the capabilities on Windows are such that that is the right thing for us, I think we will consider it."

Motorola is not ditching the Android OS that presently drives its phones and tablets. Jha confirmed that "today's focus is Android" and said the firm would like to be the first to launch a device with the next version of Android, codenamed 'Ice Cream Sandwich'.

Jha cited Android and IOS as the two most important OSs for developers and said he doesn't think there is room for five competing OSs going forward.

It is likely that Motorola will wait to see if Nokia is successful with its first Windows Phone 7 devices.

Looking forward Motorola will also focus on more global branding, much like Apple and Samsung. Jha said, "In second half, I think you will see us do more global launches." referring to previous products such as the Atrix smartphone and the Xoom tablet.

Jha added that in the second half of the year he expects "a broader ranging of Motorola products in Europe than we've ever been able to do", confirming that the company won't launch the same products under different names into different markets as much as it has previously.

Motorola will launch some new products, possibly this year, in both smartphones and tablets. Jha said, "In the fourth quarter I'm hopeful that we will launch some much more interesting products. Going forward I think we have some important global launched coming up, both in tablets as well as in smartphones." µ