Taiwan phone makers balking at Windows Phone 7?

electronista ^ | Wed October 13, 2010 | electronista

[SmokingJoe]

Taiwan phone firms say Windows Phone 7 too costly

Microsoft may have lost key Taiwan phone manufacturers after the costs and long delays for Windows Phone 7, companies based in the area reportedly said Wednesday. Most of them, including relative heavyweights such as Compal, Foxconn, Inventec and Pegatron, have committed to developing for Android over the next two to three years and aren't ready to switch. The Digitimes contacts further allege that they consider Microsoft's licensing fee too expensive when Google gives away Android for free.

As such, only a handful of companies may get into WP7 when it arrives, they added. HTC may end up controlling 70 to 80 percent of the market simply by being one of the initial partners. One of the likely remnants would be ASUS, which was a long-time Windows Mobile loyalist and should help create a Garmin WP7 phone for early next year.