With rumours already suggesting that Windows Phone 8 will support multi-core processors, it should not come as a surprise that Microsoft has begun testing the 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8960 chipset. According to The Verge, Microsoft is working on getting at least one Windows Phone 8 device ready for release by the end of the year.
The report adds that Sprint is interested in this device and has already shared its LTE specification with Nokia, suggesting that this device would be launched as a Lumia model. Sprint may also pass on the current crop of Windows Phone 7.5 devices and wait for this new device.
Asked about potential Windows Phone Snapdragon S4 devices, Qulacomm would only say that it has a “strong” relationship with Microsoft and that it has been “amazed” by Microsoft’s use of the Snapdragon capabilities. It also confirmed that “there’s no structural problem” preventing Windows Phone from running multi-core processors.
Microsoft could launch Windows Phone 8 by the end of the year but most devices using it are not expected until early 2013.
Read more: The Verge