Microsoft

More mobile makers join Android

Paul Mah — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 05:36:32 -0500

News came in earlier this week that another 14 companies have elected to join the Open Handset Alliance (OHA), a Google-led consortium dedicated to the Android open-sourced mobile operating system. Consisting mostly of manufacturers and a couple of Telcos, some of the new members include ARM, Asustek, Garmin, Huawei Technologies, Sony-Ericsson and Toshiba. Most notable would be the inclusion of Vodafone, with its 280 million customers worldwide.

The official statement is that the "New members will either deploy compatible Android devices, contribute significant code to the Android Open Source Project, or support the ecosystem through products and services that will accelerate the availability of Android-based devices."

Certainly, having the members coming on board does not mean that they have decided to forsake other platforms. Manufacturers like Sony Ericsson or existing member like HTC Corporation will continue making devices based on other platforms. What it does mean is that the sales of the only Android-based phone to date--the T-Mobile G1--must have been exceptional, if not outright phenomenal. Once dismissed by Microsoft's Steve Ballmer, Android's future is certainly more certain now than ever.

To read more on the article:
- check out this article from the Register
- check out this article from BusinessWeek

Skype for Windows Mobile 2.5 beta released

Paul Mah — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 05:26:38 -0500

Skype for Windows Mobile 2.5 beta was released on Tuesday this week. It's no surprise that developments on the Windows Mobile client continue, given Microsoft's plans for Windows Mobile. Anyway, the folks over at The Download Blog tested it out and were obviously impressed by it, and have even come forward to say that this release is good enough to recommend to Windows Mobile users who need to make overseas calls, but not yet on Skype.

While I do have a Windows Mobile smartphone lying around, I lacked an overseas acquaintance who will appreciate me making calls just to test out the client. According to Blog though, "the application's display is compact, intuitive, and full-featured." Indeed, as of this moment, Skype for Windows Mobile 2.5 has already registered more than 200,000 downloads at Download.com.

And if you are still wondering what the big deal is about Skype, you probably want to check out Carl Ford's account of his use of Skype over at FierceVoIP.

For more information about the story:
- check out the article at The Download Blog
- check out the download at Download.com

Related Articles:
Microsoft bets big on Windows Mobile
No hype Skype

Ballmer dismisses Google's Android

Paul Mah — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:10:11 -0500

Microsoft's chief executive has dismissed Google's Android operating system as financially unsound. Speaking at a conference in Australia, Steve Ballmer drew parallels to himself going into a meeting with Microsoft shareholders, and announcing a new product that has no revenue model. He noted, "I'm not sure that my investors would take that very well," before claiming that this was precisely what Google is telling their investors when it comes to Android.

In addition, the Microsoft executive also pointed out that since Android was Google's first phone operating system, it is inevitable that they start out way behind. He was probably drawing upon his own experience, with Microsoft's development of its Windows Mobile operating system, when he noted that designing a phone operating system wasn't easy. Ballmer is known for his outspoken nature: Just last month, Ballmer was reported to have made uncomplimentary remarks about its partner Intel.

To read more about this story:
- check out this article from CIO.com

Netbooks eat into Microsoft's revenues

Paul Mah — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:09:36 -0500

Citigroup Global Markets analyst Brent Thill thinks that the drop in first-quarter earnings and revenues at Microsoft is related to the success of netbooks, or low-end laptops. In a report explicitly titled "Netbooks crash the party," Thill noted that "their sales are literally blowing the roof off any analyst's expectations." Sales of netbooks are expected to reach 11 million before the end of this year, and reach 41 million by 2012. This is phenomenal growth, considering that there were only half a million netbooks sold last year. Unfortunately for Microsoft, up to a quarter of netbooks run the Linux operating system, with the rest opting for the older--and cheaper--Windows XP Home Edition. Indeed, Microsoft has been forced to push back its planned obsolesce of the Windows XP operating system as a direct result of netbooks. Still, it is too early at this point to tell whether netbooks are cannibalizing sales of Microsoft's Vista operating system, or creating a brand new market as customers acquire netbooks as a secondary unit.

To read more on the article:
- check out this article from the Inquirer

HP unveils two new iPAQ smartphones

Paul Mah — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 06:07:50 -0400

HP has announced two new smartphones: the iPAQ Data Messenger and the iPAQ Voice Messenger. Both of the new devices will run Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.1, though the iPAQ Data Messenger runs the Professional Edition and will come with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, while the Voice Messenger runs the Standard Edition and come in a candy-bar form. Screen resolution is a rather standard QVGA; other hardware features includes HSPA capabilities, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, 3.1 megapixel cameras, and microSD slots. Both smartphones are expected to debut next month on Vodafone. Neither, though, provides anything more than evolutionary updates to the hardware; it appears as if HP is still attempting to play catch-up with some of HTC's newer designs.

For more information about the new iPAQs:
- check out the article at Brighthand

Microsoft reiterates that it will not make handsets

Paul Mah — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:13:10 -0400

Even as the first Google G1 Android phone launched and Apple looked set to sell between 10 to 12 million iPhones this year, Microsoft's group product manager for Windows Mobile, Scott Rockfeld, remained adamant that Microsoft there are "no plans to build our own phone." He added that, "Right now we're happy to share the limelight." So far, Microsoft's strategy has worked well. Fiscal year 2008 saw Microsoft's partners shipping 18 million units, up from 11 million the year before. Still, competitors like RIM are certainly ratcheting up the pressure by releasing more consumer-centric headsets. Barely two years into the market, Apple too, has managed to garner an incredible momentum, if not in absolute numbers, certainly in mindshare. It remains to be seen whether Microsoft will attempt to tweak its strategy in the near future.

To read more on this topic:
- check out this article from Silicon Alley Insider

Windows Mobile 7 will be delayed

Paul Mah — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 05:48:17 -0400

Microsoft has quietly confirmed that Windows Mobile 7, the much anticipated update to its mobile operating system platform, has been delayed. A feature complete version of the operating system was initially planned for early 2009, which now has been pushed back to late 2009. Microsoft declined to comment on its plans, though it is understood that there will be no major updates to the core Windows Mobile operating system ahead of Windows Mobile 7. Still, other changes such as an improved browser that incorporate the rendering engine in Internet Explorer 6 are expected to debut sooner. This will open the door to displaying Flash content and Ajax pages, and is expected to happen next year.

For more about this article:
- check out this article from The Boy Genius Report

Microsoft readying application store for Windows Mobile

Paul Mah — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:34:41 -0400

It appears that Microsoft is gearing up to join the application store market with a "Skymarket" for Windows Mobile software. The revelation came to light on Sunday in a Computerjob.com job listing advertising for the position of product manager. Among other criteria, job scope involves heading a team to "drive the launch of a v1 marketplace service for Windows Mobile." Initial launch of this marketplace service looks set to take place as early as this fall to the developer community. Other details that were unwittingly revealed leaked that the commercial launch of the marketplace service will coincide with the next major revision of Windows Mobile, known as WM7.

For more on the story:
- check out this article at CNET News.com

Curtain goes down on Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine

Paul Mah — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:10:02 -0400

It was with some nostalgia that I read of the decision by the publisher of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine to suspend publication after 11 years in operation. The reason appears to be a lack of advertisers, as Microsoft steered its Windows Mobile operating system from being a PDA-only platform. The paradigm is different in mobile land, it seems, and advertising revenues from phone companies and OEMs are just not forthcoming despite coverage of their products.

Beyond the confirmation of just how mobile technology has changed the rules of the game, I think this is a somber reminder that information technology, and mobile technologies in particular, is in a constant state of flux. Indeed, just like how the affordability of the once exorbitantly expensive personal computer created a society where utilizing IT is no longer a competitive advantage, but something that is completely necessary; so too is the pervasiveness of always-on, high-speed mobile data access shifting the landscape.

Already, software makers like Intuit are offering online and smartphone-accessible features. Traditional newspapers like the Washington Post have not just embraced the web, but recently released a free BlackBerry application to access its content.

Of course, FierceMobileIT does owe its existence to the advent of mobile devices. Hopefully, we have added value with our enterprise-centric view of mobile devices and technologies, specifically on how to leverage wireless to benefit your organization.

In the meantime, we will continue to serve you by keeping an eye out for the latest mobile-centric developments. As the old saying goes, change is the only constant. - Paul

Smartphone & Pocket PC suspends publication

Paul Mah — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:07:06 -0400

I originally planned for another story here until I came across the sad news that the publisher of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine will be suspending publication after 11 years. The news was just announced in a blog posting by Executive Editor Hal Goldstein on Tuesday. While the door will be left open, there are no current plans to publish future Windows Mobile issues. The reason: a dwindling number of advertisers as Windows Mobile transited from PDAs to smartphones. The irony, of course, is that there are almost 20 million Windows Mobile devices sold in this fiscal year alone for Microsoft. Goldstein ended by suggesting that opportunities might exist for a more sophisticated publishing company, or a better funded entrepreneur. The Smartphone & Pocket PC website will remain in operation.

For more on the decision to end Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine:
- check out the blog entry