This isn't a personal problem, this is something that effects millions of business customers world wide.
Fair enough, but the article didn't say anything about this being a business-specific issue, so it's fair to look at it from a consumer point of view, too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocco Augusto
As a business owner and a purchaser of Microsoft products, I expect Microsoft to keep us updated and to let us know why things are taking as long as they are. If Microsoft cannot be expected to do even that one little simple thing, how do they expect their customers to make educated decision on the upgrading or purchasing of new equipment?
The same way anybody else does. You look at what's out there now and decide if it's worthwhile buying it now. If it's not, you wait. Sure some big businesses may get a heads-up from Microsoft, but I don't expect them to do that for everybody.
I think Microsoft's only real obligation is to support what they've released. Now, from a business perspective, marketing what's available also makes a lot of sense, but pre-announcing makes a lot less.
First, as Janak said, pre-announcing things can lead to the Osborne effect. You can lose current business while people wait for your next great thing.
Second, if you're very specific about what's coming, it gives competitors a leg up. If you aren't specific (which seems to be what you're advocating), your press releases get labelled as FUD.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocco Augusto
If all we hear are rumors or a late 2009 to 2010 release, and Microsoft does nothing to either stop those rumors or let them get out of control, then that is just irresponsible on Microsoft's behalf, especially when the competition is releasing new and interesting devices left and right.
As I said before, I don't expect Microsoft to spill the beans about the whole operating system, but they can still come out and say "We're working to make it more awesome" or "We're rebuilding it from the ground up. Making it stronger and faster." These are things that a) keep your customers from jumping ship to something more readily available. b) shows those customers that you actually value them as customers.
I don't think those comments would help at all. People would label them as FUD and still complain that WM 7 is taking too long (because it is). As you mentioned business planning for purchases, would those statements really affect any purchasing decision you were considering today?
That conference is for developers, though. Developers need to be in the loop to develop software so that when Microsoft does release their next OS, software is compatible with it.
This article deals with a similar thing. Microsoft is (supposedly) telling OEMs the OS will be released later. They're Microsoft's partners (not just clients) and have a real business need to know that information.
End users don't have the same needs. Somebody purchasing handsets today doesn't need to know what's going to come out in 2010, much less why it will take that long.
I attended a small business seminar from Microsoft for "partners" and watched some online small business presentations in the past. As far as I can recall, they dealt with shipping products (or maybe products that were just about to ship). WM 7 doesn't appear to fit in those categories.
There are plenty of very good Windows Mobile handsets out there today to pick from; why would Microsoft risk people not buying those by giving information about WM 7 so far in advance? They're a business, too, and I don't think it makes business sense to do that.
My experience with new versions of WM is that they usually add one feature I like and 3 features I don't care about, then they take away 2 features I used to like and ignore at least 3 things we've all complained about for years.
Yep, and that's probably the best summary of WM releases I've seen.
Fair enough, but the article didn't say anything about this being a business-specific issue, so it's fair to look at it from a consumer point of view, too.
True but Microsoft markets their operating systems to businesses so they don't get the same luxuries that companies as Google or Apple would get.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pony99CA
I don't think those comments would help at all. People would label them as FUD and still complain that WM 7 is taking too long (because it is). As you mentioned business planning for purchases, would those statements really affect any purchasing decision you were considering today?
It could if a company was looking to update their phones and all they were hearing about were the new Google and Blackberry products. This is a crucial point in the year when a lot of businesses update their old handsets or more to a different carrier. Now more than ever Microsoft has to stay relevant in their eyes and why Windows Mobile 6.1 is nice, its no where near up to snuff with the slew of new choices that have came out all of a sudden.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pony99CA
That conference is for developers, though. Developers need to be in the loop to develop software so that when Microsoft does release their next OS, software is compatible with it.
They say developers but a fair amount of reporters will be there and everyone has their ear to the ground to find out what to expect in the next couple years. Who knows, there might even be some Windows Mobile 7 news there which is what I'm secretly hoping for.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pony99CA
End users don't have the same needs. Somebody purchasing handsets today doesn't need to know what's going to come out in 2010, much less why it will take that long.
When you invest in a smartphone (Windows Mobile or otherwise) you are investing in a platform. I would like to know that Microsoft has its head in the game and I am not investing more time and money into a platform they are might one day just decide to abandon (worse case scenario.) That is just me though.
My experience with new versions of WM is that they usually add one feature I like and 3 features I don't care about, then they take away 2 features I used to like and ignore at least 3 things we've all complained about for years. I am well past caring how long it takes them to get out the next version.
Well said Rob!
As for MS spilling the beans about what they are working on now to combat advances made by RIM, Apple and Google...it really doesn't factor in since WM7 isn't competing against any of they. It will be competing against their next generation, or maybe even their second generation from now. It is only fitting that they would build the marketing hype as they get closer to launch and can relate to what is in the market then, not now.
Look how long it took for WM6 from its release & the time for device to start shipping with it. It will be more like 2011 before it gets a good foot hold in the market place.
I've been using WinMo (in its various incarnations) since Windows CE 2.1, some ten years ago. My last three phones (including my current Touch Diamond) are all WM. HTC, bless their clever hearts, has put TouchFlo 3D over (most of) WM on the Diamond, which makes it much much easier to use.
My issue is this: How is it that HTC, a gnat to Microsoft's elephant, can rapidly (well, over the course of a year or two) develop a shell that improves the WM experience dramatically, while Microsoft cannot?
I know that rewriting some of the guts is a lot harder and more time-consuming than creating TouchFlo 3D is - but Microsoft has far and away more programmers, more money, more experience in-house. It boggles my mind that there could be a 2.5 year gap between major updates of their mobile OS, when (as others have pointed out) Apple, RIM and Google are now all competing, and increasing their market share.
WM7 may be the bee's knees, but Vista it ain't. The whole OS would fit inside of a single hotfix for Vista (of which there are oodles). In my opinion, Microsoft is failing to execute on plans to deliver an improved, smoother, faster mobile experience.
Maybe the executive shuffle is in response to this - and I hope that the new WM chief will actually deliver something that's best-in-class before 2009 is over. If not, Apple, RIM and Google will all be there with shiny, slick, and poweful alternatives.
I know that rewriting some of the guts is a lot harder and more time-consuming than creating TouchFlo 3D is - but Microsoft has far and away more programmers, more money, more experience in-house.
Well, as an aggregate company, yes. But do we know how many developers they have? I never had exact numbers as a MVP, but it seemed like a fairly small team, all of whom seemed to be working hard towards delivering solutions.
Quote:
Maybe the executive shuffle is in response to this - and I hope that the new WM chief will actually deliver something that's best-in-class before 2009 is over. If not, Apple, RIM and Google will all be there with shiny, slick, and poweful alternatives.
Agreed. I get the feeling that Apple and RIM, at least, will have evolved at least one more time; the two of them have really shifted their development into the next gear. RIM, in particular, is rather astonishing; look at how fast they developed a touch product and brought it to market! Early reports also suggest the Storm's touch UI is excellent.
Rather than Microsoft delaying because they are reengineering from the ground up, I think it's quite the opposite. I think they are probably gunning for complete backwards compatibility, and need the extra year to figure out how to marry their new display system with current products based on GDI and outdated API's. Microsoft has almost never been so brave as to break compatibility. They would rather make everyone (including developers) wait for a behemoth OS that tries to be all things to all people instead of giving people early access and developers an early opportunity to make the code changes they would actually be happy to make.
In other words, my theory is that they just don't get it anymore. I think Microsoft truly believes WinMo developers will stay loyal to their platform for another 1.5 years. In that time, we'll see 2nd gen Android, and 4th gen iPhone, and Microsoft will be left wondering where all their devs went.
True but Microsoft markets their operating systems to businesses so they don't get the same luxuries that companies as Google or Apple would get.
But Apple is marketing to businesses. Remember on iPhone 3g launch day how they had businesses lined up?
Google may not be marketing to businesses (yet), but Apple is.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocco Augusto
It could if a company was looking to update their phones and all they were hearing about were the new Google and Blackberry products. This is a crucial point in the year when a lot of businesses update their old handsets or more to a different carrier. Now more than ever Microsoft has to stay relevant in their eyes and why Windows Mobile 6.1 is nice, its no where near up to snuff with the slew of new choices that have came out all of a sudden.
But, if a business already has a WM infrastructure (like Exchange and especially applications), they're not likely to jump platforms due to the inertia.
Microsoft shouldn't count on that for very long, of course, but it might work for the short term.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocco Augusto
When you invest in a smartphone (Windows Mobile or otherwise) you are investing in a platform. I would like to know that Microsoft has its head in the game and I am not investing more time and money into a platform they are might one day just decide to abandon (worse case scenario.) That is just me though.
Your comment about investing in a platform just proves my above point.
And, of course, there's never a guarantee that Microsoft won't pull the plug next release even if they say something about this release. However, Windows CE/Pocket PC/Windows Mobile has been around 10 years now, so it's not likely they're going away in the near future. Even if it does get killed off tomorrow, your phone will keep working, doing what you bought it to do (until the hardware dies).
Even Palm, who hasn't really updated their OS in years, can still sell Centros....
I agree that Microsoft should try to remain relevant, but empty statements like "We're making it awesome" won't help, and I don't think Microsoft owes us details.
Pre-Announcing
I am well past caring how long it takes them to get out the next version.
Linear Mode
LinkBacks (?)
