The Korean tech giant Samsung rolled out its Windows Phone 8 smartphone, given the moniker ATIV S, on Aug. 29 at the Samsung Unpacked event in Berlin, Germany. The announcement gives Samsung the distinction of being the first manufacturer to reveal its Windows Phone 8 mobile device.

Samsung's ATIV S smartphone unveiling at the IFA precedes the Nokia-Microsoft launch, which is slated for Sept. 5 in New York. The ATIV S smartphone launch augurs well for Windows-based phones and gives Microsoft and its partners the opportunity to expand their spectrum of offerings.

"Samsung is a highly-valued partner and it's great to see this investment in a global brand for its Windows-based tablets and phones," said Nick Parker, corporate VP of original equipment manufacturers for Microsoft.

The 4.8-inch ATIV S sports a HD Super AMOLED display and measures 137.2mm x 70.5mm. The 8.7mm thick smartphone weighs just 135gms, putting it in the same league as the flagship Galaxy S3 model. A 1.5GHz dual-core processor powers the device, which features a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera and an 8-megapixel rear-facing one. The smartphone will be available in 16/32GB on-board memory variants with microSD card support.

Along with the ATIV S smartphone, Samsung also unveiled the 10.1-inch ATIV Tab, which is a tablet based on the Windows RT version. The 8.9mm thick tablet weighs 570gms, making it slimmer and lighter than the current iPad. A 1.5GHz dual-core processor will power the ATIV Tab, which will sport a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera and a 5-megapixel rear-facing one. The tablet will be available in 32/64GB on-board memory variants with a microSD card support of up to 64GB.

Samsung's slew of new Windows-based devices gives a fillip to both its and Microsoft's market presence.

"This gives us an increased opportunity to inspire our customers with excitement and confidence as they enjoy Windows experiences across their beautiful Samsung devices, including entertainment scenarios, mobile productivity and cloud services," said Parker.

Not much is known about Samsung's ATIV S' release date, but rumors suggest an October launch may be expected.