Microsoft

Microsoft: "We want to give our customers choice"

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:11:12 -0400

With Apple's iPhone 3G launch garnering so much media attention last week, Microsoft's Mobile Communications Business senior vice president Andrew Lees sat down with Dow Jones Newswires to confirm it will not follow its rival's lead and develop a branded handset of its own. "We want to give our customers choice," Lees said, reiterating that Microsoft anticipates the greatest growth potential lies in mobile software, not devices. Citing an International Data Corp. survey estimating that smartphones will represent 21 percent of the 1.4 billion mobile phones sold in 2011, Lees added "There is a very high growth potential, and we want additionally to gain market share."

According to Lees, Microsoft's Windows Mobile OS now runs on 140 devices from 50 different manufacturers, which he said makes Windows Mobile more successful than the iPhone. He referred to an IDC report stating that while 4.4 million Windows Mobile-based smartphones were sold worldwide in the first quarter of 2008, only 1.7 million iPhones were sold during the same timeframe. "The iPhone hype is completely disproportionate to the number of people that utilize phones that use our software," Lees said.

Lees stopped short of proclaiming his dad can beat up Steve Jobs' dad.

For more on Microsoft's mobile outlook:
- read this CNNMoney.com article

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Microsoft acquires data services firm MobiComp

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:52:46 -0400

Microsoft announced its pending acquisition of software services firm MobiComp, which provides mobile data backup, restoration and sharing services. Financial terms were not disclosed. According to Microsoft, the deal promises to extend the capabilities of its Windows Mobile and Windows Live platforms by integrating MobiComp services including MobileKeeper Backup & Restore, MobileKeeper Sharing & Communities (which enables users to post social content to online networks like Facebook) and Active mTicker (which pushes personalized information to wireless users via an always-on, scrolling ticker that runs across the bottom of the device screen when the handset is in idle mode). Upon completion of the acquisition, MobiComp will still continue to serve its existing partners and customers, among them 11 mobile operators worldwide.

For more on the Microsoft/MobiComp deal:
- read this release

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Microsoft debuts embedded OS for PNDs

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:24:23 -0400

Microsoft announced the availability of Windows Embedded NavReady 2009, the software giant's first embedded operating system developed specifically for handheld portable navigation devices--promising developers and OEMs an OS that connects PNDs to online services, mobile phones using Bluetooth, Windows-based PCs and the web. Windows Embedded NavReady 2009 is based on Windows Embedded CE--key features include Live Search, MSN Direct and Windows SideShow. To download the Windows Embedded NavReady 2009 technologies, click here.

For more on Windows Embedded NavReady 2009:
- read this release

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Microsoft: No Zune phone in the cards

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:56:59 -0400

Despite soliciting feedback on how its Zune portable media device might more effectively interoperate with devices based on the Windows Mobile OS, Microsoft maintains there are no plans to release a so-called "Zune phone" anytime in the imminent future. In an interview with The San Francisco Chronicle, Microsoft's entertainment and devices division president Robbie Bach says the software giant is not working on a converged Zune/Windows Mobile device: "We continue driving the path we are driving with Windows Mobile and we are very excited about the approach we have taken this year. About 20 million devices will ship with Windows Mobile on it. We will outsell the iPhone. We will outsell the BlackBerry. We don't make phones ourselves. We don't have any plans to make phones ourselves. Our focus is on the belief that a phone is a very personal thing. Different people want different types of phones. We think that is going to continue, and we think Windows Mobile is in a great position to service all those different opportunities."

For more on Microsoft's mobile outlook:
- read this San Francisco Chronicle article

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QUICKLINKS: Report: BlackBerry Thunder to debut in Q3; Microsoft proposes alternative Yahoo deal;

Tue, 20 May 2008 06:59:55 -0400

> Report: BlackBerry Thunder to debut in Q3.

> Microsoft proposes alternative Yahoo deal.

> Windows Live Services to launch on BlackBerry.

> Vodafone, AT&T interested in Huawei handset biz?

> Qualcomm wins L-Band spectrum auction.

> LG and Samsung team on mobile DTV standard.

QUICKLINKS: Top Five Converged Devices; Microsoft walks away from Yahoo bid;

Tue, 06 May 2008 06:59:55 -0400

> Top Five Converged Devices
No longer just voice-centric phones, mobile devices now come in a variety of different form factors and sport a slew of new capabilities. Check out FierceBroadbandWireless' list of the top converged devices so far this year.

> Microsoft walks away from Yahoo bid.

> Nokia promises new phones for U.S.

> Research In Motion inks distribution deal with Brightpoint.

> AT&T to offer Garmin phone for $500?

QUICKLINKS: Android Watch; Neonode N2 unboxing;

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:59:55 -0400

Android Watch: Tracking Google's mobile progress
Since formally announcing its much-anticipated Android open-source mobile operating system late last year, web services giant Google has played its cards tight to the vest. Even with the first Android-based devices slated to hit the market within the next few months, myriad developmental questions remain. Click here for a FierceDeveloper web exclusive spotlighting what we do know about Android, six months on.

> Neonode N2 unboxing. FierceWireless

> Motorola reorganizes handset business. FierceWireless

> Microsoft completes Danger acquisition, restructures. FierceWireless

> Tough going for iPhone in Europe. FierceWireless

> Nokia introduces mobile wallet phone. FierceMobileContent

QUICKLINKS: Nokia previews iPhone-killer named Tube; News Corp. may join Microsoft in Yahoo bid;

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:59:55 -0400

> Nokia previews iPhone-killer named Tube. FierceWireless

> News Corp. may join Microsoft in Yahoo bid. FierceMobileContent

> Report: Phone makers need to target diversity. FierceWireless

> Hands-on with Sony Ericsson's Xperia. FierceWireless

Yahoo contends Microsoft takeover bid is too low

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Facing deadline pressure from Microsoft to consummate the software Goliath's $41 billion buyout bid, web services giant Yahoo said Monday it doesn't necessarily oppose a deal--it simply wants a better offer. Microsoft warned Saturday it will mount a hostile takeover if an agreement is not reached by April 26--in an open letter to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, Yahoo's board of directors responds "We have continued to make clear that we are not opposed to a transaction with Microsoft if it is in the best interests of our stockholders. Our position is simply that any transaction must be at a value that fully reflects the value of Yahoo, including any strategic benefits to Microsoft, and on terms that provide certainty to our stockholders... We are open to all alternatives that maximize stockholder value." The letter also asserts that Microsoft has publicly mis-characterized the negotiations, arguing its takeover threats are "counterproductive."

For more on Yahoo's position:
-read this letter to Steve Ballmer

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QUICKLINKS: Microsoft settles up with Visto; Google again Opera's mobile search du jour;

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:59:55 -0500

> Microsoft settles up with Visto. FierceWireless

> Google again Opera's mobile search du jour. FierceMobileContent

> U.K. gives Nokia another win against Qualcomm. FierceWireless

> T-Mobile denies plot to dump Nokia Ovi devices. FierceMobileContent

> O2 Ireland confirms iPhone deal. FierceMobileContent