Microsoft to lead WinPho 8 to glory with its own branded smartphone?

Analyst predicts the software giant will continue its foray into the mobile hardware market.

It has been a busy week for Microsoft, what with the launch of its new Surface tablet, and the grand unveiling of its much-discussed Windows Phone 8 OS.

And it's not over yet, as Reuters reports that Microsoft could be on course to launch a WinPho 8-powered smartphone of its own design.

Nomura analyst Rick Sherlund is behind the claim, saying: "Our industry sources tell us that Microsoft may be working with a contract manufacturer to develop their own handset for Windows Phone 8.

"It is unclear to us whether this would be a reference platform or whether this may be a go-to market Microsoft-branded handset."

Thus far, Nokia is the only major OEM to be driving Windows Phone in a big way with its Lumia models.

The OS still has a long way to go in terms of mass reach, but it's set to overtake iOS by 2016, and a launch of Microsoft smartphones could potentially help that result along significantly.