Rumor of the Day: Microsoft to Create Its Own Windows Mobile Device?

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.theunwired.net/?itemid=3020' target='_blank'>http://www.theunwired.net/?itemid=3020</a><br /><br /></div><i>"As Taiwanese DigiTimes reported today, Microsoft is cooperating closely with four Taiwanese enterprises and a local research organization through its Microsoft Technology Center in Taiwan (MTC) to develop various multimedia devices, Microsoft COO Kevin Turner pointed out at yesterday a press conference held in Taipei."</i><br /><br />The::Unwired additionally points to another report that quotes Ballmer as stating that Microsoft is interested in competing against the likes of Apple in terms of hardware for mobile devices. This would be an interesting direction from Microsoft to say the least. Though they've long influenced the direction of technology roadmaps for PC and PPC vendors, they've never ventured into the realm of creating their own devices. Is this a good thing? Give us your thoughts.

[Typhoon]

I would like to see it happen.

[Jason Lee]

I really doubt it will be a pocket pc. If microsoft make any hardware it will probably be a billpod. :)
It will just be their own version of the portable mediacenter devices. music and video. that is what sells right now, not pocket pcs.
:(

plus competing with apple can only mean the ipod.

[Typhoon]

Wasn't there a rumor about MS working on an XBox portable?

[gt24]

Palm, Microsoft... somebody better insist on making stand alone pocket pc devices... instead of insisting that they won't really do that anymore...

[bobbert]

Don't forget that Microsoft frequently works with vendors to help them get out devices. Just because they are working together doesn't mean the device will be labeled "Microsoft" as the product seller.

Having said that, I do also seem to remember that Microsoft has been saying they are open to developing and selling devices themselves. It's not an outrageous or impossible step. But personally, I just don't expect it in the near future.

[bvkeen]

This would be neat. They could build in a timer that soft-resets the Pocket PC every 8 hours instead of having to build that into the software, or a timer that grabs up (and keeps) a chunk of RAM every so often. :lol:

Seriously, I'd rather see them put their efforts into continuing to improve their software products. All in all I am happy with how far they have come, but I'd really like to see continued focus on improving it.

[Timothy Rapson]

Now would be the time for this, with no PDA makers committed to WinMob and the iPod as the excuse.
This would solve the problem of makers not supporting OS upgrades. One maker, one OS producer, one upgrade package.
Microsoft has shown they can make and market hardware with their mice and the xBox.
They could leverage a really good price on 30 GB small hard drives.

If they could ship a product that was top of the PPC field in terms of features, stability, and price, in three-four versions I still think they could turn the handheld market around.

1. A game system to compete with the PSP
2. A PDA to compete with Palms.
3. A phone to compete with Nokia etc.
4. Music to compete with iPod.
5. A whole new kind of camera.

The trouble is that most people won't buy anything with a MS OS on it that they don't have to.

[r@dimus]

Palm, Microsoft... somebody better insist on making stand alone pocket pc devices... instead of insisting that they won't really do that anymore...

The Dell Axims are not going anywhere any time soon.

But regarless, it seems natural that MS would come out with their own branded PPC> They've had plenty of experience with stuff like that from getting the Xbox on the market.

[wshwe]

Microsoft's OEM model hasn't worked as well in mobile devices as it did in PCs. Microsoft wants to topple RIM, Palm and Apple. Standalone PDAs are on their way out. In a couple years both HP and Dell will have stopped selling standalone PDAs.

[alabij]

You guys need to relax. The only time MS creates a hardware product is by aquiring another hardware company. With the exception of the XBox of course. But then again their shares have been falling due to all the money they wasted on the XBox. So yeah! its unlikely

[IpaqMan2]

Well my thoughts on this is...


The Pocket Pc IMO has never became the platform that it could of. The OEMs never really caught the vison. Palm was always more successful for what it does (a simple dayplanner) and Apple tops the shelf with their iPod. I personally think that's because both of those companies are able to chase after their own vision of what each believes their device can be and it would be nice to see how Microsoft invisions CE/WM and put it into a real device. Maybe Microsoft could help shed new light and interst in the OS.

[Lex]

The big button which is now the D-pad will be for RESET.

[aroma]

The Dell Axims are not going anywhere any time soon.


You sure? There are rumors that Dell too is abondoning the standalone PDA market.

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/index.php?topic_id=48127

[jnixon]

Why would Ballmer be interested in getting in the hardware business? He should get his own house in order and do a better job partnering with their software ISV's who are developing applications on WinMobile 2003/05/CE, etc.

Perfecting the performance of their OS software on hardware vendors such as Symbol, Intermec, Denso and iMate should be their prime directive instead of entertaining the idea of getting into the hardware business...

As my grandpa always used to say "do what you know"...

Jeff

[Jason Dunn]

I think this has gotten confused with Microsoft building their own portable media center device to compete with the iPod, which I think they WILL do.