Microsoft readying dual-core, LTE phones, report says

In the face of disappointing sales of Windows smartphones, Microsoft plans to release dual-core and LTE phones.

Windows Phone President Andy Lees told AllThingsD in a story posted yesterday that dual-core phones are coming, though he wouldn't offer specifics. Lees also said the current collection of single-core Windows phones holds up well compared with dual-core Android phones.

"They're all single core, but I suspect that they will be faster in usage than any dual-core phone that you put against it, and that's the point," Lees said.

He also said LTE phones are coming but did not say when the first models will arrive. He said Microsoft wants to wait to see if the faster LTE networks could be supported by less power-hungry phones. "The first LTE phones were big and big (users) of the battery, and I think it's possible to do it in a way that is far more efficient, and that's what we will be doing," Lees said.

Lees also has high hopes for Mango, or Windows Phone version 7.5, which the company began slowly rolling out late last month. The company said last week the updates had been proceeding smoothly, prompting the company to open the tap so that 50 percent of all users can now grab it over the air.

"Our first (release) was about mindshare, and really getting the credibility, and I think (Mango) is really about starting to build unit volume and market share," he said.

In a proxy statement the company filed earlier this month with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Microsoft admitted it had experienced "lower-than-expected initial sales of Windows Phone 7."