Samsung working on a Windows Phone 8 version of the Galaxy S III?

Samsung's hugely anticipated Galaxy S III is finally set to show its face this week after months of speculation, providing Android fans with fresh ammunition in their eternal struggle against those dastardly iPhone types.

And it could be getting some unexpected assistance too, with the latest rumours suggesting Sammo could be lining up an all-but-identical handset running Windows Phone 8 Apollo for later in the year.
The Samsung Galaxy S II was unquestionably the No 1 Android phone in 2011 – in fact, for most it was the top smartphone across the board. So it's no surprise that hopes are high for its successor – so high in fact that a hint of disappointment may be inevitable when we finally lay eyes on the finished product on Thursday.

With all the fuss over Android's latest hero-in-waiting, it's easy to forget another point: Samsung also make Windows Phones (like the Omnia W pictured here). And right on cue has come a rumour that should get WinPho users' Metro tiles all in a flutter: Samsung is reportedly making a Windows Phone Apollo version of the Galaxy S III.

According to WinPho site WP-lite, it won't be quite as simple as identical hardware running Microsoft's OS instead of Google's, but we're told the design and many of the headline specs will be the same or very similar, such as a 4.7in HD screen, NFC, potentially a dual- or quad-core processor (possibly depending on region), a 12-megapixel camera, and – of course – Windows Phone 8 Apollo.

That last part means no matter how true the rumours are, we're still looking at autumn at the earliest before anything appears out in the wild. But Samsung has certainly shown willingness to give Windows Phone a decent go in the past, and will no doubt want to position itself to take full advantage should Apollo be the release that sees the Microsoft platform truly take off.

Posted in: Samsung,Samsung Mobiles,Windows Phone 8