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  #1  
Old 07-02-2009, 09:00 AM
Nurhisham Hussein
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Default Microsoft Branded WM Phone?

http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/...rosoft-branded/

"ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley says her best understanding of "Pink" is now that it's a Microsoft-branded phone running a custom UI on top of Windows Mobile 7, developed by what's left of the Danger team and targeted at the Sidekick market. Yep, Microsoft-branded -- as in, the exact thing Microsoft has been denying for ages now."

The current Windows Mobile ecosystem is similar to the way Microsoft has treated the PC world - an MS based operating system riding on hardware made by others. First Xbox, then Zune, demonstrated Microsoft's willingness to break away from that hugely successful paradigm, because it didn't translate well to other markets. Are we going to see the same thing in the Windows Mobile world? Apple showed one way to build a market based on a closed eco-system - but then Microsoft didn't exactly have a blazing success emulating this model with the Zune. Windows Mobile has in its own understated way been a success because it met the needs of the enterprise market. Now that smartphones for consumers are all the rage, this (along with WM7) looks like the MS response. Good idea? Bad idea? Thoughts wanted!

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  #2  
Old 07-02-2009, 02:28 PM
Russ Smith
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I'm of two minds on this:
Bringing out it's own branded smart-phone will tend to make the other OEMs worried that MS may eventually under-cut them. That worry translates into at least examining the possibility of other OSes which translates into some ship-jumping.

On the other hand, smart-phones are often re-branded by the service providers (You often have the same hardware presented by the various cellular companies.) In that situation MS becomes (just?) another source for service providers to choose from.

For the most part, I'd have to say "bad idea." I think Microsoft has the potential for getting and holding onto a fair part of the smart-phone market as long as it sticks with it's Standard Operating Procedure. Back in the "Palm vs PPC" days, it was this strategy that eventually won out. PPC OS started out with a lot of potential that captured the interest of the enterprise market first. MS leveraged that into more consumer sales.

Probably the safest thing to do is to use the Danger team as a place to develop design concepts which they could sell to OEMs.
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  #3  
Old 07-02-2009, 03:13 PM
whydidnt
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I think it's a great idea. MS partners have been as guilty as Microsoft at holding back the platform. For a while, every device released had a 2.8" QVGA screen 528 Mhz Processor, 128 MB ROM and 64 MB RAM, then we saw a HUGE increase to 256 MB ROM and 128 MB RAM. Only recently have seen an increase beyond that. I would venture to guess that more than 50% of the devices recently released have a 528 Mhz processor. Only in one rare instance have ever seen a device with more than 1 GB of built in storage. Only with the current crop of "announced" (though not really released) devices have we seen larger VGA or better screens. None of this is Microsoft's doing. It's the fault of the OEM/ODM.

In the meantime competitors have been delivering devices with 8 or 16 (and now 32 GB) of built in storage, larger, hi-resolution screens, etc. etc. Windows Mobile could easily have supported a "super phone", with 3.8" VGA screen, 32 GB ROM, MicroSD, GPS, 800 Mhz processor, etc., yet not one of Microsoft's partners felt any desire to produce a device-- and yes because of Microsoft's lack of enhancements, the only way to compete with the new "cool stuff" from Apple and RIM would have been to knock their socks off with superior hardware. Instead we have ended up with countless me-too devices, sad attempts to copy Apple or RIMs designs and a general blah feeling in the market about Windows Mobile.

If I was in charge of the Windows Mobile division, I'd look at all of this, see how poorly my partners have done, and think I could do it better as well. From the sounds of things, that appears to be what is happening, and I don't blame them. HTC in particular has been extremely guilty of milking the market for the next upgrade instead of actually giving users everything they want.
 
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  #4  
Old 07-02-2009, 03:47 PM
Fritzly
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[QUOTE=Russ Smith;709571].

On the other hand, smart-phones are often re-branded by the service providers (You often have the same hardware presented by the various cellular companies.) In that situation MS becomes (just?) another source for service providers to choose from.

QUOTE]

Keep in mind that the service provider re-branding a phone phenomenon is limited to the US and we are not among the most advanced and lucrative markets so I would not consider this a big issue.
The advantage for MS would be the ability to update the OS without being at the mercy of middle entities and this would benefit the image of WM OSes immensely.
 
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  #5  
Old 07-02-2009, 03:50 PM
Fritzly
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nurhisham Hussein View Post
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/07/01/microsofts-pink-smartphone-to-be-microsoft-branded/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/...rosoft-branded/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley says her best understanding of "Pink" is now that it's a Microsoft-branded phone running a custom UI on top of Windows Mobile 7, developed by what's left of the Danger team and targeted at the Sidekick market. Yep, Microsoft-branded -- as in, the exact thing Microsoft has been denying for ages now."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/ppct/auto/1246517685.usr14226.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>The current Windows Mobile ecosystem is similar to the way Microsoft has treated the PC world - an MS based operating system riding on hardware made by others. First Xbox, then Zune, demonstrated Microsoft's willingness to break away from that hugely successful paradigm, because it didn't translate well to other markets. Are we going to see the same thing in the Windows Mobile world? Apple showed one way to build a market based on a closed eco-system - but then Microsoft didn't exactly have a blazing success emulating this model with the Zune. Windows Mobile has in its own understated way been a success because it met the needs of the enterprise market. Now that smartphones for consumers are all the rage, this (along with WM7) looks like the MS response. Good idea? Bad idea? Thoughts wanted!</p>
WM 6.5 is not available yet so speaking about WM 7 seems more a wish than something happening within 9/12 months.
 
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  #6  
Old 07-06-2009, 03:38 PM
oldan
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Default Hello Palm Pre

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fritzly View Post
WM 6.5 is not available yet so speaking about WM 7 seems more a wish than something happening within 9/12 months.
Agreed. And that's the main thing pushing me to another platform. Microsoft is not innovating and moving forward with any speed whatsoever. I'd like WinMo 6.5 officially annointed and appointed for my phone. Uh-huh... not going to happen. If it weren't for ppcgeeks.com, I'd be struggling to figure out how to get along with TouchFlo enstead of flashing a new 6.5 rom on my toy.

C'mon! Seriously, where's the Microsoft that kicked Palm's butt? Sigh... I guess I'll get a Pre and have some fun with that.

- Oldan
 
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  #7  
Old 07-09-2009, 05:20 PM
leslietroyer
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I've been a windows mobile users for a long long time, anyone remember the Thera ?? But just switched to the IPhone --- the "eco-structure" there is sooo much better, and you can actually update the OS on the phone, WOW what a unique Idea...

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