It’s been almost a year since Microsoft announced Windows Phone 7. While things have been going okay for the brand new mobile OS, adoption hasn’t been stellar, which Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer readily admitted this week in front of analysts.

“We haven’t sold quite as many as I would have liked in the first year. … I’m not saying I love where we are, but I am very optimistic on where we can be,” the ever-enthusiastic CEO said at a financial analyst meeting.

Microsoft has had the backing of major hardware partners since Windows Phone 7 launched. HTC, Dell, Samsung and LG all have phones that run the operating system, and HTC has already announced hardware for Windows Phone 7.5, aka Mango. However, it seems Ballmer is banking on Microsoft’s newest partner to really give the OS a boost.

“With Nokia we have a dedicated hardware partner that is all-in on Windows Phones,” All Things D quotes Ballmer as saying. “They are not doing something on Android or [any other operating system].”

Nokia announced earlier this year that it was adopting Windows Phone 7 as it’s primary smartphone OS. With the first of its handsets set to debut in the fall, the partnership is a chance for both Microsoft and Nokia to boost their respective profiles in the smartphone market.

“Today in London, our two companies announced plans for a broad strategic partnership that combines the respective strengths of our companies and builds a new global mobile ecosystem,” the two CEOs said in an open letter published in February. “The partnership increases our scale, which will result in significant benefits for consumers, developers, mobile operators and businesses around the world. We both are incredibly excited about the journey we are on together.”

SOURCE via All Things D