Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Microsoft Middle East and Africa today announced its partnership with global wireless distributor Brightpoint Middle East FZE (Nasdaq: CELL) ("Brightpoint") to bring Windows Phone devices to the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. Planning to launch later this year the Windows Phone Online Shop will be an e-commerce website that allows consumers from all over MEA to purchase Windows Phone devices for the first time.

Microsoft and its Smartphone partners have worked together closely to create a different kind of phone with new experiences that bring together what people care about most. The Windows Phone Online Shop will offer a centralized destination for consumers across the region to purchase a variety of the latest sleek form factors from various manufacturers of Windows Phone devices, to be delivered to their doorstep.

"Smartphone growth is fuelling the worldwide mobile phone market and Windows Phone is poised to lead this trend. In fact, IDC recently projected that Windows Phone will have the second largest share of the Smartphone market by 2015," said Gustavo Fuchs, Microsoft Mobility Director, Middle East and Africa. "We are seeing huge Smartphone growth in the region and this is expected to continue with a prediction of 38 percent year on year growth for 2012. The launch of the Windows Phone Online Shop will help fuel the appetite of consumers in the region."

"We are pleased to continue our long time partnership with Brightpoint, who have been with us since the first version of Windows Mobile and has now embraced Windows Phone as a part of their portfolio. Brightpoint's wide reach across Middle East and Africa and its globally recognized distribution expertise will ensure consumers will have access to the latest and greatest phones as soon as possible," added Fuchs.

The Windows Phone Online Shop will be available in English, French, Arabic and Turkish and will include many features to optimise the browsing and shopping experience. In addition to buying Windows Phone units online, visitors will be able to compare different models, read reviews, and watch demo videos to get a good understanding of the product range. The site's integrated social media platform will bring people together by letting them make recommendations and share their activities with friends, family and colleagues.

"We are happy to strengthen further our long term relationship with Microsoft in support of their Windows Phone offering," said Anurag Gupta, President of Brightpoint Europe, Middle East and Africa. "Our expertise in offering e-commerce and supply chain solutions will enable consumers across Middle East and Africa to purchase Windows Phone devices online to be delivered to their doorstep. We will continue to invest and expand our portfolio of services and footprint in the Middle East and Africa region."

Windows Phone offers a fresh approach to phone software, distinguished by smart design and truly integrated experiences that bring to the surface the content people care about from the Web and applications. Individual country access to the Windows Phone Online Shop will be rolled out with the first launch set to take place later this year.

"People want a phone that helps them focus on what matters most, works on their behalf and simplifies common tasks. They want a phone that helps manage and organize all of the information that is constantly swirling around them. Windows Phone brings together related content from the web, applications and services into a single view to make life easier. We are excited to deliver this to consumers in the Middle East and Africa," added Fuchs.

- Ends -