Windows mobile

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: 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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Sony Ericsson debuts Windows Mobile device
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Verizon debuts a slew of new devices

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:59:57 -0400

On the eve of CTIA Wireless 2008, Verizon Wireless introduced five new devices including the BlackBerry Curve, the LG enV2, the Motorola Q9c, the XV6900 and the Samsung Alias. The XV6900 smartphone has a touchscreen user interface and uses Microsoft Windows Mobile 6. The phone retails for $349.99 with a $50 rebate and a two-year contract.

The enV2 is redesigned to be slimmer and is featured in a black and maroon finish. The phone will be available in April for $129.99 after a $50 rebate with a two-year contract.

The Blackberry Curve 8330 will be available in May and will operate on the carrier's EVDO network. The phone will retail for $269.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.

The MOTO Q 9c smartphone is targeted at business professionals and features the VZ Navigator service. The phone uses Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 and retails for $249.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and a new two-year customer agreement.

Finally, the Samsung Alias will be available in mid-April and features the same dual-hinge design as on the SCH-u740. The phone retails for $129.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. -Brian

For more:
-see our photo slideshow of new releases

See these releases:
BlackBerry Curve
LG enV2
Moto Q9c
XV6900
Samsung Alias

Dell smartphone launch imminent?

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 07:59:58 -0400

Analysts are once again clamoring for Dell to launch a smartphone soon. Strategy Analytics' director of wireless device strategies Neil Mawston told MacWorld the development of smartphones would be a logical step for Dell to expand its presence in the mobile market. Mawston pointed out that Apple, HP and Toshiba are already in the business of smartphones and PDAs, so the competitive threat and market itself are just too big to ignore. While the rumor that claimed Dell would launch a Google Android-powered smartphone at Mobile World Congress last month never came to fruition, the company could still launch such a device or ink a deal with Microsoft for Windows Mobile. Mawston also noted that Dell needs to replace its Axim PDAs, which it killed off last year.

According to a recent report from ABI Research, one in three phones sold in 2013 will be a smartphone. Smartphones will increase from the 10 percent market share they have now to 31 percent market share in five years, according to the report. -Brian

For more on Dell's rumored smartphone plans:
-read this MacWorld article

Sony Ericsson debuts Windows Mobile device

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:59:58 -0500

On the eve of the 2008 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Sony Ericsson debuted a series of new devices, including the Xperia X1, a high-end Windows Mobile slider phone with a qwerty keyboard and a nine-panel touchscreen interface. The phone is available in GSM, GPRS and EDGE in the 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz bands. It is available in UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA in the 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1700 MHz, 1900 MHz and 2100 MHz bands. The phone, which features WiFi connectivity and AGPS capability, will debut in the second half of 2008.

This is the first Sony Ericsson Windows Mobile device--a surprise since Ericsson is a shareholder in Symbian and has launched 10 phones using the Symbian OS platform. At the press conference Sunday night, Sony Ericsson executives tried to downplay the use of Windows Mobile on its Xperia device--however, it caused quite a stir among the media in attendance.

But Xperia X1 isn't the only device Sony Ericsson debuted. The company also announced two new Cybershot phones--the C702 and the C902. The 702 features a 3.2 megapixel camera while the 902 has a 5 megapixel camera and can store up to 700 photos. Also new to the Sony Ericsson lineup is a Z770 Web phone, a W980 clamshell music phone that can store 8,000 songs, two G-series phones--the G700 and G900 which target the Web user--and two HSPA laptop cards. -Sue

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AOL Open Mobile Platform on tap for summer

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:59:58 -0500

Web services giant AOL announced the AOL Open Mobile Platform, promising developers ready access to the tools and source code necessary to create and distribute applications across mobile device platforms and operating systems including Windows Mobile, Symbian, BREW, Java and Linux. Scheduled for release this summer, AOL Open Mobile Platform is based on proprietary AOL technology embedded on 150 different handsets now available to U.S. subscribers--the platform will comprise an XML-based, next-generation markup language, an ultra-lightweight mobile device client and an application server, with a dynamic presentation layer enabling more efficient feature deployment. According to AOL, developers may also integrate applications built via the new platform with third-party APIs as well as AIM, AOL Mail, AOL Video, MapQuest, Userplane, Truveo and Winamp. AOL's Platform-A ad network division will serve clickable banner ads, giving developers a chance to monetize their applications.

Related article:
AOL fine-tunes mobile strategy

Streamezzo releases Rich Media Workbench

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:59:58 -0500

Mobile software provider Streamezzo unveiled Rich Media Workbench, opening its development platform to developers, system integrators and related firms in an effort to enable more efficient application creation. Rich Media Workbench promises to accelerate the deployment of rich media applications and services by means of a client/server architecture spanning more than 250 devices and platforms including Windows Mobile, Symbian, BREW, Java, Linux and Android, in effect requiring developers to create applications once for distribution across all major environments. According to Streamezzo, the platform not only reduces development costs and time to market, but also fosters industry collaboration. The Rich Media Workbench SDK, including documentation, code samples and APIs, will be available for free download on Feb. 25.

"This platform helps the mobile ecosystem overcome the hurdles of fragmentation by enabling applications and services that work across all platforms and handsets," said Streamezzo CTO Pierre-Emmanuel Struyven in an interview with FierceDeveloper, noting that porting demands often swallow up at least 50 percent of an application development budget. "It helps developers concentrate on the concept, not the technical difficulties of porting. We want to increase the number of developers who are able to use technology for their own projects and needs, and give them the appropriate tools to roll out their own services."

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QUICKLINKS: Apple VP says third-party apps will employ digital signature authorization; AT&T's Ralph de la Vega on Android, dev

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 06:59:55 -0500

> Apple VP says third-party apps will employ digital signature authorization. Article

> AT&T's Ralph de la Vega on Android, devices and software development. Article

> China Mobile testing 3G Windows Mobile device. Article

> Zoho Creator Mobile debuts. Release

> T-Mobile Germany to sell unlocked iPhone--for €999. FierceMobileContent

The Shadow lurks in T-Mobile's future

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 07:59:57 -0400

T-Mobile USA announced the imminent arrival of the T-Mobile Shadow, a handset produced and designed by HTC that T-Mobile said is the first in a planned franchise of devices marketed under the Shadow brand. According to the operator, the Shadow was designed to significantly reduce the complexity so common among feature-rich devices, with enhanced myFaves functionality enabling users to call, send email, text or IM, and share multimedia content by pushing a button from the myFaves home screen. Powered by an enhanced user-interface integrated with Windows Mobile 6, the Shadow promises a 65K 2.6-inch display--one of the largest screens yet to grace a T-Mobile phone--along with a 2-megapixel camera with video capture, WiFi and EDGE connectivity for Internet access and voice-activated calling.

For more on the T-Mobile Shadow:
- read this release

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QUICKLINKS: Microsoft's next wireless push courts the enterprise; Palm closes 25 percent sale to Elevation Partners;

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 07:59:55 -0400

> Microsoft's next wireless push courts the enterprise. FierceWireless

> Palm closes 25 percent sale to Elevation Partners. FierceWireless

> Jade Software extends platform to Windows Mobile. Article

> Opera unveils Opera Link. Release

> Migo Software delivers Roundhouse. FierceMobileContent

> MotoDev Game Developers Awards winners announced. Release