Beijing, March 18 (IANS): Microsoft said on Wednesday that it will partner Lenovo and Xiaomi to develop smart devices that runs the latest version of its Windows operating system.

The US multinational announced an initiative to deepen cooperation with China's leading hardware and software makers to promote Windows 10 on computers, tablets and smartphones, during a two-day conference in the southern city of Shenzhen, Xinhua news agency reported.

Windows 10 is slated for launch sometime this summer.

Lenovo, one of China's largest smartphone makers and the parent company of Motorola Mobility, will launch Windows-based smartphones this summer, Tong Fuyao, general manager of Lenovo China, said.

A separate statement from Microsoft on Wednesday said the Lenovo phone will be a contract device with China Mobile, the country's largest telecom operator.

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, now the third largest in the world, will provide feedback to Microsoft based on a test run of the operating system on Xiaomi's flagship smartphone Mi4 later this year.

Windows Phone accounts for a meager 0.4 percent market share in China in the 12 months ending September last year, compared with more than 90 percent share between Google's Android and Apple's iOS, according to consultancy Kantar Research.

Microsoft's push to expand also faces challenges from Chinese players. NASDAQ-listed Alibaba announced in February an investment in smartphone maker Meizu to promote its own mobile operating system Yun OS.