Before Nokia’s Phone division was bought out by Microsoft, the phone maker was subsidized by the software giant to $1 billion/year. Over other alternatives, that was a big incentive for Nokia to go with Windows Phone.
To other companies as well, the company may be offering the same deal, according to Eldar Murtazin, whose prediction accuracy from his heyday has gone down.
Apparently Samsung will be receiving $1.2 billion and has taken the deal to make handsets of Windows Phone 8. Some negotiations there seem to have been, since in mid-December, the number was $1 billion.
We’ve heard that Microsoft has been courting Sony and the wooing was reportedly in the form of $500 million to make a WP handset too. Even $600 million cut is getting by Huawei, which is actually more than Sony. Lower sums of $300 million are received by other companies, but their names are not known, so Samsung isn’t alone in this.
Along with Lumia line, now Microsoft also owns almost 90% of the market. While to produce its own hardware, the company isn’t afraid but for other companies’ devices, it prefers to license out software.
If these rumors prove true, the cash infusion could be used by Sony as few core businesses (cameras, TVs etc) aren’t doing too hot. The legitimacy could be used by Huawei (not famous in west) and for making Windows Phone devices, Samsung is on the hook anyway (legal agreement). But these are not officially announced, so far.
Lastly, an Android-powered phone might be made by Nokia. Microsoft might be reinvesting the money into its own platform and is making a pretty penny on licensing deals over Android.

Microsoft to pay Samsung and Sony to develop WP8 smartphones

Microsoft to pay Samsung and Sony to develop WP8 smartphones