Samsung is considering a comeback to Windows Phone, following several failed devices in 2012 and 2013, forcing the South Korean giant to focus on Android for smartphones.

The Korea Times reports that Samsung is currently working on a range of mid-range to low-tier devices for Windows Phone, after testing the stability of Windows Phone 8.1. One thing is holding Samsung off announcing these devices, the current Microsoft royalties dispute, forcing the South Korean company into court with another U.S. firm.

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"If the companies settle their litigation, then Samsung will manufacture handsets powered by the Microsoft-developed mobile platform. The timing could be the third quarter of this year at the earliest", according to the unnamed official cited by Korea Times.

The move to work on Windows Phone gives Samsung more ecosystem diversity, even though it is highly unlikely the devices launched by Samsung will be enough to push away from Android, where most of its smartphone sales are based.

It is even questionable if Samsung will find success on the Windows Phone platform, considering previous attempts have failed to spark interest.

Samsung is a big budget handset provider, meaning it could use its marketing to bring Windows Phone into developing markets, which Microsoft is targeting.

Microsoft partnered with quite a range of manufacturers last year, to make sure the Windows Phone ecosystem was full of devices. However, the only launches came from HTC, LG and Microsoft.

In 2015, there are reports Samsung, Lenovo, ZTE and even Xiaomi could get involved in Windows Phone, although for now these are only rumors.

TagsWindows Phone, royalty lawsuit, budget handset