Windows for smartphones here 'by the end of the year'

The software giant is expected to make the official announcement of the product codenamed Stinger later in the week at a mobile phone conference in Cannes.

The software is expected to hit the streets at the end of the year in the shape of smartphones from Mitsubishi, Samsung and UK-based Sendo.

However, the major mobile players have all avoided Microsoft's offering. Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola and Matsushita have made it clear they prefer to develop their own software.

Microsoft claimed the condensed version of Pocket PC-based software would run all applications - including non Windows-based XML. However, Richard Lindh, director of wireless division at Microsoft, said the Stinger smartphones would run better on Stinger-specific software.