It goes against everything the company has said in the past, but online reports suggest Samsung is committed to making Windows Phone 7 its primary format in 2011, leaving both bada and Android in the shade.

The story stems from a report on AsiaOne that quotes Samsung's head of mobile marketing in Thailand Sitthichoke Nopchinabutr as claiming that, for every 50 Windows Phone 7 smartphones it manufactures in 2011, Samsung will produce 24 Android handsets and just five bada phones.

If true, this would mean that Microsoft's OS would account for around 63 percent of Samsung's smartphone output in 2011, with the firm planning to launch 15 to 20 new models throughout the course of the year.

Smartphone strategy

"The smartphone market will see tough competition next year as many more vendors will come in," Nopchinabutr told the site.

"We are prepared to hold on to our number two ranking in the smartphone market. We will be more aggressive, for sure."

Some commentators have questioned the validity of Nopchinabutr's comments and, in truth, they do represent a departure from the firm's previous position.

In early September, Samsung marketing head YH Lee openly labelled Android as the firm's priority, going on to describe Windows Phone 7 as an OS more likely to appeal to enterprise.

Bada bye bye?

Perhaps most surprising, however, is bada's small role in Samsung's 2011 operations.

Given bada is Samsung's own platform, it had been expected it would take on the role of back up should the firm be squeezed out of the Android market, with Windows Phone 7 acting as a distant third.

Conversely, Nopchinabutr's comments suggest bada is set to be dwarfed by Samsung's Windows Phone 7 operations, the company having already garnered much praise following the launch of the Omnia 7 in late October.

[source: AsiaOne]