But, in its original form, the connections between Windows Phone and Microsoft's console, not to mention Windows itself, were more implied than actual.
The unveiling of Windows Phone 8, however, makes what was previously little more than a perceived link real and advantageous.
That's the good news but Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 unveiling wasn't all positive.
Risky Windows
News that existing Windows Phone 7 handsets won't be offered an upgrade to the new platform Windows Phone 7.8 delivered instead as a halfway house is a risk.
As I speculated back in April, by fragmenting Windows Phone, Microsoft is effectively resetting its mobile platform's userbase to zero for the second time as many years.
That's an argument I still stand behind, but Microsoft's decision to build Windows Phone 8 around the same core that runs behind the forthcoming Windows 8 the reason why Windows Phone 7 has been cut adrift comes loaded with potential.
Finally, the 'Windows' in Windows Phone makes sense.
Open opportunity
Particularly from a developer's perspective, Windows Phone 8 rights a lot of wrongs.
Firstly, it's the first version of the OS that supports native code something scores of developers, and indeed engine makers, have been calling out for since launch.
Equally important, however, are the links to Windows 8.
As demonstrated by Windows Phone head Joe Belfiore, games built for one of the two platforms will run on the other with only the minimal changes in code.
The ability to link gameplay between the two is equally enticing. As pitched, a simple tap from one device to the next is enough to both invite and install the corresponding title thanks to the NFC chip built into Windows Phone 8 handsets.
Strong link
Hence the news that Microsoft is bringing Windows into play to support Windows Phone which has had an admittedly bumpy ride since launch back in 2010 is great news for developers that have already put their weight behind the OS.
If Microsoft can foster a the kind of link between Windows 8 on PCs and tablets such as Surface and Windows Phone 8 on smartphones as it is attempting to do with developers, then the platform's userbase will inevitably grow, leading to millions more consumers for developers already operating on Windows Phone.
So as frustrated as I may be as a Windows Phone consumer that my less-than-two-month-old handset will never be offered the chance to upgrade to Apollo, it's not hard to see why Microsoft was unable to resist linking up its two operating systems.
Start again
Indeed, Windows Phone's greatest weakness to-date its comparatively small userbase when compared to iOS and Android will ironically prove an advantage when handsets running the new version launch later this year.
The number of consumers who will feel cut adrift will be minimised, and Windows Phone 7.8 will placate many.
Windows Phone 7 itself now appears to have been something of a trial run, with Windows Phone 8 perfectly timed to couple the launch of Windows 8 pitched as the 'real deal'.
Time will tell as to whether this, too, proves to be a false dawn, but I can't begrudge Microsoft for taking the risk.
Suddenly, Windows Phone makes a whole lot more sense. It's just a pity Microsoft has had to close one window in order to open another.
