Windows Phone 8

Samsung’s (005930) lead Windows Phone 8 model, the ATIV S, is finally hitting retail outlets in the United Kingdom. The supply of Nokia (NOK) Lumia 920 models has just improved in Europe and it just hit the number one and number two positions at Expansys UK.  HTC (2498) is ramping up its 8S model and five out of Top Ten smartphones at Expansys UK pre-order chart are now Windows phones. Seven out of top ten phones on Expansys Germany are Windows models. A leading British handset sales tracked Uswitch is now showing both Lumia 920 and 820 climbing to its top 10 chart. A steep price cut has buoyed Nokia 800 to number one on Amazon UK handset list and onto DialAPhone list of best-sellers. Clove UK is showing several Lumias on its Hot List. More →

Early reports indicate that smartphones running Microsoft’s (MSFT) Windows Phone 8 operating system are seeing a number of technical problems, including random reboots, freezes and poor battery life. The problems are said to be affecting both the HTC Windows Phone 8X and Lumia 920, although the latter could be affected by a separate issue that Nokia (NOK) said it was investigating. The software giant later confirmed the problems within its operating system and had said that it was investigating the matter. In a statement released to TechCrunch on Wednesday, a Microsoft spokesperson said the company has “identified a cause with our partners” and is working to release an over-the-air update in December. Microsoft did not reveal the cause of the problem, however.

Despite the “slow start” for its Surface with Windows RT tablet, Microsoft (MSFT) is definitely interested in working on more hardware. BGR exclusively reported last month that the Redmond, Washington-based company is developing its own Windows Phone 8 smartphone, possibly with Surface branding. The Wall Street Journal corroborated our report earlier this month with news that Microsoft is working with component suppliers in Asia to scrape together a smartphone with a screen between four and five inches. The latest in the string of Surface smartphone rumors now comes from Digitimes, which claims that Microsoft has chosen Foxconn to manufacture its Surface smartphone. Digitimes also notes in its report that Foxconn will reportedly build Amazon’s (AMZN) rumored smartphone, with each company’s handset slated for a mid-2013 release.

Now that Windows Phone 8 is officially pushed out and people are snapping up Nokia (NOK) Lumia 920 devices like there’s no tomorrow and then running them over with cars, we can finally start talking about what Microsoft (MSFT) is going to push out in the next update. According to The Verge and Twitter user Football4PDA,  Microsoft’s next Windows Phone 8 update is codenamed “Apollo Plus” and will bring some new features including a variety of bug fixes. Over-the-Air (OTA) updates, VPN, Wi-Fi connection fixes and audio improvements are all said to be in the works, according to The Verge’s sources. Windows Phone 8 “Apollo Plus” is expected to be detailed at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February. Meanwhile, Microsoft is rumored to be preparing to release Windows Phone 7.8 to Windows Phone 7 users as early as early as Wednesday.