Microsoft just announced four special hardware partners for Windows Phone 8 — Nokia, Huawei, Samsung, and HTC will have Windows Phone 8 devices running on "next generation silicon" from Qualcomm. There weren't any details on exactly what this silicon would be, but we're guessing it'll be a dual-core processor. Microsoft and its partners are ready for a global push, as well: the company announced that it'll launch in more than 180 countries in 50 languages, more than Apple announced last week.

Additionally, Microsoft released some details on software updates for its future hardware — all software updates will be pushed over the air, and all Windows Phone 8 devices will get "at least" 18 months of software support after launch. The company also announced some details on an "enthusiast" program — registered enthusiasts will get early access to updates before the broad consumer rollout.