Samsung VP Gavin Kim Leaves To Head Microsoft's Windows Phone Team

Samsung's VP of consumer and enterprise services, Gavin Kim, is departing the company to join Microsoft as the general manager of the Windows Phone team. The two companies have been working towards a closer alliance, having recently inked a deal over Android patent issues. This move by Kim could further strengthen their ties and bring some of Samsung's success to boost confidence in Windows Phones.

Kim revealed the decision in an interview with BGR, stating that his responsibilities at Microsoft will be to "help set the future direction for the Windows Phone platform and to accelerate Microsoft's trajectory to win the hearts and minds of consumers, carriers, device manufacturers, developers and partners."

He continued to express great confidence in the Windows Phone platform saying, "In my experience, there is an already fervent base of Windows Phone supporters out there and they all get it. They are passionate, and already very vocal about it... so, it is really my new job to make sure we reflect that message clearly in our product and marketing collaborations with all of our partners to create more Windows Phone believers."

Following the news of Google buying Motorola for $12.5 billion and amidst the Android-targeting patent war, there have been rumblings about Samsung refocusing on its own platform and reconsidering its commitment to Android, possibly shifting alliances to the Windows Phone platform. Samsung and Microsoft had recently signed a deal over Android patent issues, which involved a lower patent royalty fee per device in exchange for more future collaboration.

[via WinRumors]