Nokia launching Windows Phone 8 devices before the end of the year

Microsoft announced at the Developer Summit a couple of weeks ago that Windows Phone 8 would have four partners at launch, namely, Nokia, Samsung, HTC and Huawei. While Huawei were quick off the mark to announce that they were going to be bringing their Ascend range to Windows Phone, it took a "leak" from an HTC insider to for us to find out the they were planning to launch three Windows Phone 8 devices; the flagship "Zenith", the midrange "Accord" and the entry-level "Rio." Samsung have also promised to bring a Samsung Galaxy SIII like device to Windows Phone 8, yet the premier Windows Phone OEM in Nokia has been conspicuously quiet. Unknown to us, there have been rumours that the first Windows Phone 8 Nokia devices were not going to be launching until early 2013. Fortunately - for some of us that are holding out for a WP8 Lumia - WPDang is reporting that Nokia has accelerated its processes and are now on target to release their initial Windows Phone 8 devices before the of the year.

So what should we expect from Nokia? Well, Meetmeego.org's Cosimo Kroll claims to have met a Nokia employee who told him that Nokia's Windows Phone 8 (Apollo) offerings will be "incredible" and "unbelievable." Also, Nokia design boss Marko Ahtisaari said that they were working on a revolutionary new smartphone that will make other handsets seem dated. We think the next Lumia design will most likely resemble the leaked render (above).

Do you like the potential design? Let us know by leaving a comment at the bottom.