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It seems Microsoft is feeling a bit frisky for Windows Mobile these days, for according to Reuters, Eddie Wu, the software company's managing director of OEM embedded devices Asia, said that the company expects Windows Mobile shipments to grow by "50 per cent minimum over the next two years".

According to the optimistic Wu, Microsoft expects to sell "20 million units in its 2007/2008 fiscal year ending in June 2008, compared to the 11 million units that it sold in the 2006/2007 fiscal year".

Analysts are saying though, Microsoft shouldn't have too much trouble in reaching this target as "the percentage of smartphones in the mobile mix keeps going up and up and getting new handset makers like Sony Ericsson on board won't do it any harm".

But for all that, even with 50 per cent growth, analysts say Microsoft is still going to be a long way from coming even close to mobile competitors like Symbian.