Microsoft previews Windows Phone 8 Joe Belfiore, Corporate Vice-President of Microsoft, introduces the Windows Phone 8 mobile operating sy...

Microsoft previews Windows Phone 8

Joe Belfiore, Corporate Vice-President of Microsoft, introduces the Windows Phone 8 mobile operating system in San Francisco, California, June 20, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

A screen displays Window's mobile operating system as Microsoft introduces its Windows Phone 8 software in San Francisco, California, June 20, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

SAN FRANCISCO, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Microsoft on Wednesday previewed its latest mobile operating system Windows Phone 8, a further step by the software giant to beef up its mobile efforts.

The mobile software, also codenamed Apollo, has a shared core of Windows NT kernel that powers desktop and laptop versions of Windows, said Joe Belifore, Microsoft's head of Windows Phone, at the Windows Phone summit in San Francisco.

The shared core means support for multi-core processors, from dual-core, quad-core to a possible 64-core in the future, enabling consumers to have more hardware options. Manufacturers will also be able to scale up and down in price and performance of the devices, and developers will have an easy transition from the PC system to working with the mobile platform.

Microsoft confirmed that there will be dual-core handsets initially this fall.

Windows Phone 8 also has support for Near Field Communication ( NFC) hardware, enabling users to make their smartphone a digital wallet.

Microsoft said the platform will provide users with a complete wallet experience, from credit and debit cards, loyalty and membership cards, to saved deals and "tap to pay."

The platform has support for Micro-SD card expansion of storage, allowing users to transfer music, photos and video, and even install applications. It also features support for three screen resolutions.

It also has a new start screen, which is similar to the start screen in Windows Phone 7 but allows users to scale the size of the live tiles to make their phone more personal.

According to Belifore, the system will be officially released this fall.