With the latest smartphone news from Google Nexus One and Apple’s iPhone, Microsoft isn’t taking the competition sitting down.

However, Microsoft still firmly believes in partners they can rely on to supply the hardware while they focus on the software. This is why Microsoft is bringing out the Windows Phone coupled with cellular phones of different styles and prices courtesy of Samsung, HTC, Cherry Mobile Sony Ericsson, LG and Acer.

Moreover, Microsoft launched Windows Mobile 6.5 as the new OS of the Windows Phone. This new OS features a new free service called My Phone for all WinMo 6.0 and above wherein you can sync your phone data—like pictures, music and SMS—to a password-protected website for security and safety. 

Andre Ngo, Business Development-Mobility Communications Sector for the Asia Pacific Region, Microsoft Philippines, was on hand at a recent Windows press conference in Makati City. He said, “In today’s mobile world, our tasks are not defined by where we are and by being more productive, we have time to do the things we want.”

“For people who play and work hard, a Windows phone enables them to bring their digital information, communications, applications and entertainment wherever they go,” he added.

Among the things you can do with the Windows Phone include being fully-integrated to social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter as well as easy access to Windows Live. Andre also reassured phone unit owners that the WinMo 6.1 can be upgraded to 6.5 for free.

“Our goal is to keep people connected to each other whenever they want it, wherever they are. Through Windows phones, we are giving people access to their favorite programs and applications even if they’re on the move between work and home,” said Andre.

To give people more choices in what phones they can use, Windows managed to select a wide range of units that offer from a full QWERTY keyboard to a large touch screen or even both. Likewise, these include international brands like HTC and Sony Ericsson to a local company like Cherry Mobile.

“HTC has been in the smart phone business for over a decade and along with this is our long time partnership with Microsoft with Windows Mobile,” said Mark Sergio of HTC. During the press conference, he presented the HTC HD 2 with its 11-inch screen (the widest ever), its Pinch technology and a 1 GB Snapdragon processor.

“It’s a smart smartphone for the not-smart users,” Mark joked, who said the going price of the HD 2 will be around $856.18 to $1,070.23 (Php 40,000 to Php 50,000).

Meanwhile, Reggie Ramos described the Cherry Mobile Eclipse as “the first Filipino Windows-branded smartphone.” He said that Cherry Mobile’s first foray into the smartphone market will put smartphones “within reach of Filipino cell phone users.”

Aside from being dual SIM and running on a 416Mhz MTK processor, the target price of the Cherry Mobile Eclipse is around $214.20 (Php 9,999.00).

Most of these products will be available by the first quarter of this year. (Joseph N)

Mark Sergio (HTC), Andre Ngo (Microsoft) and Reggie Ramos (Cherry Mobile)