Windows Phone 8 will be closely aligned at a technical level with Windows 8 in a way that earlier Microsoft phone platforms have not been with other Windows OSes. Both operating systems are expected to ship at the end of this month.

Windows 8 and its Windows RT version feature a redesigned user interface -- formerly called Metro -- that has been optimized for tablet devices. Microsoft even plans to market its own Windows tablet, called Surface.

In PCs, ThinkEquity's survey also found that 37 percent of respondents have completed their Windows 7 deployments, while 45 percent are rolling it out, and 17 percent are still in an evaluation or piloting phase. More than 82 percent said they haven't altered their Windows 7 implementation plans as a result of the imminent launch of Windows 8.

The IDG News Service