Microsoft "Pink" Phone Coming This Spring?

[Eriq Cook]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-pink-targeting-teens-and-twenty-somethings-devices-la/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/25/...ngs-devices-la/</a><br /><br /></div><p>Rumours about Microsoft's mysterious "Pink" smartphone have been circling around the net for about a year now, but according to a <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-pink-targeting-teens-and-twenty-somethings-devices-la/" target="_blank">factual</a> statement by a (former) Microsoft employee, we should finally see what Pink is all about this Spring. The "Pink" phone (<a href="http://gizmodo.com/5378080/how-screwed-up-is-microsoft-pink-hint-its-named-after-pink-the-singer" target="_blank">rumored</a> to be named after the pop-singer Pink) is to be a "Zune-like" smartphone marketed towards youth with a special emphasis on social networking and communication.</p><p>Not a bad idea coming from Microsoft. It sounds like the the once popular Danger Sidekick platform (which Microsoft acquired back in February 2008). Perhaps this IS the "next genration" Sidekick? And with Windows Mobile 7 around the corner, I wonder how similar Pink will be to the <a href="http://www.wmexperts.com/barcelona-and-wm7-what-we-expect-and-what-we-are-hearing" target="_blank">media edition</a> of Windows Mobile 7...</p>

[benjimen]

Microsoft is so irrelevant when it comes to consumer mobility, does anyone really care about this Pink phone? Most people who use WM devices either have to for work, or regret purchasing them for personal use. None of that is likely to change as the mobility market passes them by...

[Djblois]

Microsoft is so irrelevant when it comes to consumer mobility, does anyone really care about this Pink phone? Most people who use WM devices either have to for work, or regret purchasing them for personal use. None of that is likely to change as the mobility market passes them by...

Why are you even on this forum?? Please get off!

[Jason Dunn]

Microsoft is so irrelevant when it comes to consumer mobility, does anyone really care about this Pink phone?

You might be surprised this year... :D

[benjimen]

You might be surprised this year... :D

You could very well be right -- though IMO Microsoft long ago lost out on becoming any sort of standard in this arena...

[benjimen]

Why are you even on this forum?? Please get off!

Just because an opinion is different than yours doesn't mean it's not something that should be said. If it bothers you, get yourself off, you'll feel better :eek:

[Jason Dunn]

You could very well be right -- though IMO Microsoft long ago lost out on becoming any sort of standard in this arena...

Here's the thing though: people seem to think the mobile phone game is "over", that somehow the war has been won by certain sides, and everyone else should just take their ball and go home. Smartphones still represent a small fraction of overall mobile phone sales - the game is still afoot! And if Apple proved anything with the iPhone, it's that a compelling product can come out and change the game.

[benjimen]

Here's the thing though: people seem to think the mobile phone game is "over", that somehow the war has been won by certain sides, and everyone else should just take their ball and go home. Smartphones still represent a small fraction of overall mobile phone sales - the game is still afoot! And if Apple proved anything with the iPhone, it's that a compelling product can come out and change the game.

Yes & no -- you won't see Microsoft mobility product announcements featured on every mainstream news service at home and abroad; or Windows-Phone ports in new cars; or incorporated into mainstream-anything. There's plenty of market share left over to support fringe-OS devices like Windows Mobile -- they'll always be around, just not a standard.

[azieba]

Pink -- the singer, really? I always thought it was an indirect reference the flourescent Pink colors in the Zune logo.

[Paragon]

Yes & no -- you won't see Microsoft mobility product announcements featured on every mainstream news service at home and abroad; or Windows-Phone ports in new cars; or incorporated into mainstream-anything. There's plenty of market share left over to support fringe-OS devices like Windows Mobile -- they'll always be around, just not a standard.

Since mobile computing is pegged to be the fastest growing segment in the coming years, I think it is a bit premature to be picking any winners or losers, or their place in the market. For all we know good old Palm could skyrocket in the coming years. Microsoft could easily be leapfrogging over others and be on everyone's mind within the year....The point is we just don't know yet.

Dave

[Steven McPherson]

Yes & no -- you won't see Microsoft mobility product announcements featured on every mainstream news service at home and abroad; or Windows-Phone ports in new cars; or incorporated into mainstream-anything. There's plenty of market share left over to support fringe-OS devices like Windows Mobile -- they'll always be around, just not a standard.

I think that's really short sighted. Please do tell, will the Cubs win the world series next year? You have insight that clearly none of us mere mortals do.

This is far from over. If the history of technology has taught us anything its's that platforms evolve, fade and then retire. Microsoft has lost traction, but whose to say that in a couple of year or less, we won't be sitting here and saying....wow, if Apple or Palm had only done what Microsoft did....

The truth is that we can't. Microsoft has a huge climb against other consumer mobility products. I think their track record in technology is unparreled in the history of computing. Microsoft is a beast wth a huge warchest. Count them out at your peril.

[benjimen]

Since mobile computing is pegged to be the fastest growing segment in the coming years, I think it is a bit premature to be picking any winners or losers, or their place in the market. For all we know good old Palm could skyrocket in the coming years. Microsoft could easily be leapfrogging over others and be on everyone's mind within the year....The point is we just don't know yet.

Dave

I think there's a growing percentage of users that are zeroing in on one line of products in particular -- and don't really consider switching once they discover their preference. You'll get there too, it's nice that you're enjoying trying different products.

[egads]

Don't really care how cool or hip Pink will be, the deciding factor if this thing REALLY takes off is not even in Microsoft's hands. The thing that is keeping most people from Smartphone's today is the cost of the monthly data plan.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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You have a decent Smartphone with a $10-$15 a month data plan and it would be a iPhone killer. How can a family of 4 or 5 people possibly afford to have a Smartphone for every person. That would be a $300 a month phone bill. Heck just a family of two the bill is over $120.

[Jason Dunn]

You have a decent Smartphone with a $10-$15 a month data plan and it would be a iPhone killer. How can a family of 4 or 5 people possibly afford to have a Smartphone for every person. That would be a $300 a month phone bill. Heck just a family of two the bill is over $120.

Indeed - the cost of data plans is a huge problem. It remains the #1 blocker when I talk to people about getting a smartphone. The cost of the phone is less of a problem than the ongoing cost of monthly data access. It's still too expensive!