PocketNow has procured some exclusive information on Windows Phone 8 (codenamed ‘Apollo’). The information is taken from a parnter video of Joe Belfiore, senior vice president and Windows Phone manager. The video appears to have been intended for Nokia, but it’s infomation has made its way to the masses and now we have a little better idea of what is to come in Windows Phone 8.

Hardware:

• Multi-core processors
• Support for new display resolutions (totaling four, specific resolution dimensions unknown)
• Removable microSD support
• NFC Support (emphasis on wireless payments)
• Tap-to-share capabilities

Windows 8 Desktop:

• Deeper integration without using the Zune desktop client (think ActiveSync)
• Xbox console companion app partner client
• Better SkyDrive support to include sharing multimedia across multiple devices.
• Windows 8 and Windows Phone ‘Apollo’ to overlap in a number of areas (kernel, networking stacks, security, and multimedia support)

Apps:

• A total of 100,000 apps in the Marketplace at ‘Apollo’ launch
• Support for lower-level programming languages for more powerful applications and esier app porting
• App-to-app communication

Data:

• DataSmart to help users better manage the use of data on their devices
• Data information listed on live tiles
• LocalScout will automatically search for free local hotspots
• Automaticallty connecs to carrier-owned hotspots, giving them precedence

Business:

• BitLocker Support – Native 128-bit encryption
• Ability for businesses to deploy their own apps behind a firewall

I’m sure Windows Phone 8 is a work in progress, so many of these features could be dropped by its expected launch later this year and I’m sure there is even more left unsaid. Until we get confirmation from Microsoft, this is a tentative list of features and changes coming to the platform in the next major update.