More than 30 smartphones running on Microsoft’s new mobile platform (Windows Mobile 6.5) will be launched by year-end, according to Benjamin Tan, senior director, GCR Mobile Team Unit at Microsoft China. Tan revealed the numbers to reporters in China recently, reports Taiwan’s DigiTimes. He said that the phones will be launched by over 15 different handset vendors. Handset-makers that have expressed their support for the new platform include HTC, Acer, Samsung, LG, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba and Hewlett-Packard, according to market sources in Taiwan. Several global mobile operators are also believed to have backed the platform, including AT&T, Sprint Nextel, Verizon Wireless, Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone, NTT Docomo, Softbank Mobile, SKT, Telstra and Telus.

Microsoft announced last month that Windows Mobile 6.5 will debut on devices on 6 October. One of its most prominent backers is considered to be LG, which reportedly plans to launch a total of 13 new ‘Windows phones’ (the moniker Microsoft has given devices that run will run 6.5) globally by end-2010. LG’s commitment to Windows follows a deal between the South Korean vendor and Microsoft earlier this year under which Windows Mobile is expected to become LG’s primary smartphone platform. Version 7 of the platform – reported to be a complete reworking of the OS – is expected to commercially launch next year.