Live: Microsoft's launch of Windows Phone 8

And just like that, it's time for Microsoft to officially announce the start of the Windows Phone 8 era. At today's event in San Francisco, we're going to be introduced to WP8 once more, but this time we expect Redmond's team to reveal some additional details regarding its new mobile operating system, and who knows, we might even get to see (and play with) some previously unknown handsets!

Join us as we are following Microsoft's event and bringing you the latest news as they come out. We'll keep you posted with up-to-the-minute updates with our liveblog, which you can find below.

Stay tuned, the even starts at: 10AM PDT | 12PM CDT | 1PM EDT | 5PM GMT | 6PM CET

Live event tracker

13:13	This is Afnan Ali., signing off!
13:13	Excuse us now, but we're going to check out the new devices... and will report everything interesting that we come across at once!
13:12	OK, guys, it was a wonderful Microsoft presentation. We had a lot of fun, and hope that you did too!
13:11	... Hinting at how "personal" and unique the experience of Windows Phone 8 can be.
13:10	Ballmer: "I guess you'll never be able to mistake me and Joe, and you'll certainly not be able to mistake me and Jessica."
13:09
13:09	Joe is aback on stage, and Jessica Alba is also on stage!
13:08	"As hundreds of millions of people but Win 8, they'll see how much better the experience will get with Windows Phone 8."
13:08	"Developers are all-in." - With WP8 and Win 8. "If someone hasn't been convinced until now, Microsoft is all-in."
13:07	Now that's promising...
13:07	"Between Windows Phone 8, Surface, and Windows 8, you won't be able to turn on the TV, or open a magazine, without seeing a Microsoft ad.
13:06	T-Mobile will have the Lumia 810 and 8X. Verizon - the 822 and 8X, and AT&T - the Lumia 920, 820 and 8X.
13:04	New phone, exclusive for Verizon - Samsung ATIV Oddissey - probably a version of the ATIV S.
13:04	The phones will go on sale this coming weekend!
13:04
13:03	And now we're getting an overview of the HTC Windows Phone 8X. Once Ballmer finishes with each phone, he's neatly putting it in his coat.
13:02	"We're thrilled that Samsung has built such a flat-out gorgeous phone."
13:02
13:02	Next, he's showing the Ativ S.
13:01	He's showing off some of the newest Windows phones. He starts with the Lumia 920.
13:00	"New killer hardware. I'd argue one of the best hardware, if not the best hardware" in phones.
12:59	"What else sets Windows Phone 8 apart - it's how it works with Pcs." Now that's not surprising.
12:58	"Pin your best friends, sisters, brothers, co-workers. Create a Room and pin it to the Start screen."
12:58	It's a very philosophical speech that Steve has prepared for us.
12:57	"4 years ago we really started on what became WP8."
12:56	"Windows 8 PC really are the best PCs ever!"
12:56
12:55
12:55	Wow, it's Steve Ballmer, and with a rather friendly tone at that.
12:55	Joe has finished with his presentation and has left us. Thanks Joe, you were awesome, as always!
12:54	One more person is going to come on stage now.
12:54	This will let you transfer your iTunes library to your (supposedly new) Windows (Phone) 8 device.
12:53	"We'll have sync companions for Windows 8, Windows 7, and the Mac."
12:52	Music and Playlists will also be synced across devices, thanks to Xbox Music.
12:51	Joe says we shouldn't be worried about online storage spaces with Skydrive, because Skydrive gives you the most starting space of all others
12:49	They are using an HTC phone as the demo device. Poor Nokia...
12:48	Joe is now talking about the tight integration between Windows Phone 8 devices. Thanks to Skydrive, of course!
12:47	You can share calendars, locations and other stuff with the people in your Rooms. Awesome stuff!
12:46
12:46	You can add people with other OS'es to Rooms.
12:45	Rooms is like Facebook's Groups, or something like that. You can put desired contacts in various rooms, like Family, Friends, etc.
12:44
12:43	But we are! New feature: Rooms.
12:43	Noooooooo, she left. :( Nobody in the hall is now following what Joe's talking about.
12:42	"Personal cleaning products, diapers, wipers" and other cool stuff... AND introducing Microsoft's new partner - Jessica Alba!
12:41	"I started a company called the Honest Company."
12:41	She's been mostly concerned about her music library, but Joe has come to the rescue, installed the Mac Connector app and saved the day!
12:40	"Before you got the Windows Phone, you had an iPhone. Did you find the switch difficult?"
12:39
12:38	"I love it right on my screen." Jesus...

12:38	Beautiful as always. But she's a bit nervous. Obviously didn't spend much time learning the script.
12:37
12:36	They are rolling a video featuring a working mom... Jessica Alba!
12:35	It was an awesome presentation if Kid's Corner. Awesome job, Joe!
12:34	"Really, the feature is for you, because... do you notice how quiet it is now..." :D Ha! It really is.
12:33	Joe is having to deal with three kids right now and take care of the presentation at the same time. Poor guy...
12:31	Lol, Joe is inviting some kids on the stage to show us how Kid's Corner works.
12:30	We're getting a quick overview of the Kid's Corner feature.
12:30	"Daddy, can I play on your phone?" - Now Joe will show us how people-friendly WP8 is.
12:28
12:28	According to Microsoft, you'll be able to surf about 45% more using Data Sense. But carriers need to support it. First is Verizon!
12:27	"What's really different here is that our Data Sense features actually lets you use more data."
12:26
12:26	Data Sense compresses your data traffic, helps you find Wi-Fi hotspots, automatically optimizes the web traffic used by the phone.
12:25	"A feature called Data Sense." This feature will help you optimize your data.
12:23	The crowd is very enthusiastic about the stuff Joe talks about.
12:23
12:22	"Pandora on WP8 will include a whole year of music with no ads." Super-cool.
12:22	Pandora is coming to Windows Phone in early 2013!
12:21	Temple Run, and many other Unity Engine-based games are coming to Windows Phone 8 (previous WP versions didn't support Unity).
12:20	WP is soon going to have 46 out of the top 50 most used smartphone apps.
12:19	Basically, Live Apps are some kind of super-smart apps that can integrate with other apps, the lock screen, various services, etc.
12:18	Facebook is one of the new Live Apps. Many devs are working on redesigning theirs.
12:16
12:16	"In a way the lockscreen is the ultimate glancable UI." With Live Apps, the lockscreen will automatically show relevant information.
12:15	"In Windows Phone 8 we've built a new lockscreen that's powered by Live Apps."
12:13	"Of course, only Windows Phones have Live Tiles." That alone does not mean anything Joe, and you know it!
12:13	"We focused to make the phone personal."
12:12
12:12	They are rolling a rather cool promo video about WP8.
12:11	But "people are the focus of our design," Joe believes that Microsoft's WP has a whole new design philosophy than iOS and Android.
12:10	"The user current user experience has been standardized by Apple and the iPhone, and then copied by Android." True, more or less...
12:08	"We're tripling the number of countries with access to the Marketplace."
12:07
12:07	OK, guts, we're off! Joe Belfiore, the master of Windows Phone, is on stage!
11:59	Obviously, we've come to the right place.
11:52	We're inside! Stay sharp now...
11:16
11:15	Here are some pics we took of the location:
11:14	It's Afnan Ali here once again, taking care of this lovely liveblog for you.
11:13	Hey guys, are you ready for the Microsoft show to begin?!