LG Electronics To Introduce Windows Mobile Devices

[Nurhisham Hussein]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/feb2007/tc20070208_003869.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.businessweek.com/technol...0208_003869.htm</a><br /><br /></div><i>"BusinessWeek has learned that LG Electronics, the fourth-largest mobile phone maker, is developing new Windows Mobile devices. With Samsung and Motorola (MOT) already selling Windows Mobile phones, Microsoft will have three of the top five handset makers in its camp. LG says it's working on at least two new smartphones, including devices that would use its touch-screen technology rather than buttons. The first handsets will hit the market in the second half of this year."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/hisham-20070210-lglogo.jpg" /><br /><br />Out of the top five, only Nokia and Sony Ericsson have yet to look at releasing Windows Mobile devices - and from official comments and reports (and the new Nokia Maps launched today), Nokia appear to be interested in the possibility. Gartner (report via <a href="http://msmobiles.com/news.php/4909.html">MSMobiles</a>), a well-known market research company, has issued some blunt advice to Nokia on that score. With more and more vendors looking at or producing Windows Mobile devices we seem to be getting to the point where WM is reacing mass-market acceptance, and just as important, we could be seeing an explosion of choices in the months to come. Taking that with the launch of Crossbow next week and Photon next year, we're about to enter an interesting period, no?<br /><br />Update 02/12:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/11/lg-has-two-windows-mobile-6-devices-slated-one-similar-to-the-p/">Engadget</a> has got wind of two devices that LG will produce - a "Prada" version and a "Chocolate" version. No other details are available as of now, but it shouldn't be long before we got more info.

[pocketpcadmirer]

It would be great if they make something like Chocolate's WM editon? :!:

[Nurhisham Hussein]

I forgot to add this, but better late than never:

PCWorld.com (http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20070208/tc_pcworld/128848) are reporting that along with LG, a number of other vendors will be releasing WM6 devices, including Lenovo, Samsung and...wait for it...Toshiba! Is Toshiba finally returning to Windows Mobile?

[Sven Johannsen]

I'd really liket to see what Sony could do with a WM device. They had some interesting PDAs for a while there, and I've always liked their style. Have a TX series laptop and it is sweet. Just got some BT stereo headsets from them, which are just really nicely designed.
( http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=DRBT30Q%2fS&amp;Dept=audio&amp;CategoryName=pa_PADepartmentAccessories_bluetooth ) (You can get these much cheaper than that BTW)

[JamesM]

Back in the days of Windows CE, LG made the Phenom, a very nice handheld (of the H/PC flavor). It's nice to see them return.

[TOCA]

As much as I like the WM platform, I would still hate to see all 5 top brands giving in, and convert to WM.

Well actually I'm a litle double minded here, because there are some Symbian machines out there, that I would love to see on WM, but at the buttom line, it would lead to lack of competition, and a stop to devellopment, as we know it.

What would make a perfect world, would be if they all made both systems, or maybe, and now I'm in Utopia, devices with free of choice OS 8O

Imagine the freedom of choosing the Cellphone/PDA/Smartphone/Whatever, that suits your needs, and taste, and then installed the OS you like 8)

I know: I'm way past daydreaming here :(

[Yata]

Gartner (report via MSMobiles (http://msmobiles.com/news.php/4909.html)), a well-known market research company, has issued some blunt advice to Nokia on that score.

Personally, I'm shocked that a "research" company, whose biggest customers include Microsoft, would suggest that the biggest cell phone manufacturer in the world should start producing WM devices. ;)

[mightymission]

Fact of the matter is, nothing "revolutionary" has debuted device or OS-wise since the ipAQ debuted 7 YEARS AGO.

I'm done with these incremental "evolutionary" changes in devices and the WM OS. I'm mean really, MS hasn't upgraded from IE 4.0 on this platform in what 5 YEARS now? Please.
I'll be spending that Grand per year I was spending on my PDA-Phone on something better going forward until I see a "revolutionary" device and upgrade to the WM platform. Which in my estimation will be around late 2009. JMHO.