Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) expects global unit sales of its Windows Mobile 
software for cellphones to grow at least 50 percent per year in fiscal 
years 2008 and 2009 as demand for smartphones rises rapidly.<br><br>"Fifty
 percent growth is the minimum," Eddie Wu, the software company's 
managing director of OEM embedded devices Asia, told Reuters on the 
sidelines of a news conference on Tuesday.<br><br>He said Microsoft 
expects to sell 20 million units in its 2007/2008 fiscal year ending in 
June, and expects to grow at least 50 percent annually over the next two
 years. It sold over 11 million units of its Windows Mobile software in 
its 2006/2007 fiscal year ended June.<br><br>"We're actually still seeing very good growth (for our mobile software) in markets like Europe and the United States," said Wu.<br><br>Wu added that growth of Windows Mobile is seen fastest in Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Brazil, Russia and India.<br><br>Microsoft's
 mobile communications division provides operating systems for 
smartphones and other mobile devices based on the Windows Mobile 
platform. Its clients include South Korea's Samsung Electronics 
(005930.KS), Motorola (MOT.N), High Tech Computer (HTC) (2498.TW) and 
Asustek Computer (2357.TW).<br><br>Microsoft competes against 
Symbian-based operating systems which are used by vendors such as Nokia 
(NOK1V.HE) and LG Electronics (066570.KS).<br><br>It also faces stiff 
competition from other players such as Apple Inc (AAPL.O), Blackberry 
maker Research in Motion (RIMM.O) (RIM.TO), and Palm Inc (PALM.O).<br><br>"Even
 if Microsoft is growing at a rate of 50-60 percent, it doesn't mean 
they can gain that much share since Microsoft and Apple's mobile 
operating system is still much smaller compared to the Symbian system," 
said Citigroup analyst Kevin Chang.<br><br>"But they (Microsoft) are one
 of the few players which are offering touchscreen platforms so that is 
helping them grow," said Chang, adding that vendors such as Sony 
Ericsson may soon also launch touchscreen smartphones with Windows 
Mobile.<br><br>Global smartphone unit shipments grew 52.5 percent from a
 year ago to hit around 12 million units in 2007, based on data by 
Gartner, and the market is set to continue to increase in high 
double-digits in 2008 and in 2009, analysts said.<br><br>Microsoft also 
said earlier this year that it would offer full Web browsing 
capabilities for mobile phones in the third quarter this year, following
 in the footsteps of Apple's iPhone, which has won praise for the way it
 displays Web sites as they would appear on a computer.<br>