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Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer has singled out Nokia’s work in developing exciting new hardware for the Windows Phone platform as one of the key drivers of the steady growth’s he’s expecting from the platform in the months to come. 

Also read: Developers give Nokia and Windows Phone the thumbs up

Speaking at Microsoft’s BUILD conference for developers, Ballmer only briefly touched on Windows Phone in his keynote address at an event far more focused on the Windows 8 desktop OS, but still had time to praise Nokia’s vision as a global hardware leader and the extra dimension it has given Windows Phone’s prospects going forward.

Ballmer mentioned the recent announcement of the first Windows Phone Mango handsets from the likes of HTC and Samsung as having given the platform fresh momentum, but made it clear that it was Nokia’s Windows Phones that would really push the boundaries.

“We’re still all anticipating the great work that Nokia will do on its phones as they come to market, and frankly help lead Windows Phone into new geographies and price points and form factors in ways that I think will be very important,” Ballmer said.

It’s interesting to note the specific mention of price points and form factors. Nokia’s global reach is an obvious plus point, but the remarks confirm suggestions that Nokia will unlock parts of the smartphone market Windows Phone has thus far not had a presence in, which will obviously include more aggressively priced entry-level devices.

This no doubt partly explains the reference to form factor too, but we also take it potentially as good news for the future of the likes of QWERTY business devices in the footsteps of the Nokia E6 and Nokia E7, which thus far have been virtually non-existent in the Windows Phone 7 landscape.

Echoing comments made the other day by Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, Ballmer also spoke about how in developing Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, Microsoft had placed the focus on “revolving life on the phone around the people that are important to you in your life”.

Ballmer also reminded us of the more than 500 new features Mango introduces to a mobile OS looking increasingly stable as the de facto third ecosystem alongside Android and iOS.

We’re hoping to get our first look at the debut Nokia Windows Phone before too long, though we’re still not sure when the all-important announcement will be.

Things are looking good for the Nokia World 2011 event at the end of next month, but there’s certainly been no official confirmation as yet.

What are your latest feelings on the prospect of Nokia and Windows Phone coming together in the wake of Ballmer’s comments? Drop us a line below with your thoughts…