• by Mark Walsh  @markfwal, August 15, 2012

Microsoft and Nokia are expected to unveil its first Windows Phone 8 device at an event in New York City on September 5. That date would correspond with a prior report from Bloomberg indicating Nokia will announce its first Windows Phone 8 device on the first day of the annual Nokia World conference in Helsinki. The forthcoming device is expected have the same look and feel as the Lumia 800 and 900, but will likely feature a larger display and faster processor, according to the BGR blog.

Windows Phone remains a distant competitor to Android and iOS in the smartphone market. In the second quarter, it had just 3.5% share of global smartphone shipments compared to 68% for Android and 17% for iOS, according to IDC. But the research firm noted the Lumia phone lineup helped increase Windows Phone shipments 115% to 5.4 million in the quarter. Microsoft and Nokia are counting on the upgraded platform to accelerate phone sales starting in the fourth quarter.

But Windows Phone will face renewed competition from Apple when the company debuts the next version of the iPhone On September 12.