Asus working on Microsoft Phone as Windows Phone Classic rumored
Microsoft unveiled its new Windows Phone 7 Series mobile operating system at Mobile World Congress earlier this week. And it was met with widespread approval. But what does Windows Phone 7 Series mean for Windows Mobile, and where was the Microsoft Phone that’s been rumored for years now?
Both of these questions have kind of been answered today, at least partly.
It’s been assumed ever since Microsoft acquired Danger, maker of the Sidekick handset, a couple of years ago that Microsoft-branded mobile hardware would be on the way. But the fabled ‘Pink’ project seems to have got stuck in development hell, and there’s still no sign of it emerging into the light.
However, The Street is today reporting that Asus could be working with Microsoft on a new Microsoft Phone. It would naturally be a touchscreen smartphone running Windows Phone 7 and is being eyed for a release later this year. But there are alleged problems which could see the launch moved back to early 2011. And if it’s a software problem then it could hit the other handsets being built for Windows Phone 7 as well.
There’s also a danger in taking this route of upsetting the other hardware manufacturers it has dealings with, such as HTC and Samsung.
Also rumored, though not yet confirmed, is the fact that Windows Mobile 6.5 will be rebranded Windows Phone Classic as soon as Windows Phone 7 is released. I Started Something suggests that Microsoft will not just be sustaining the current mobile operating system but could even keep growing and nurturing it for some time to come.
The idea is reportedly to aim Windows Phone 7 at consumers, with Windows Phone Classic being targeted at enterprise and emerging markets. Either way, the Windows Mobile branding which has been a bit of a noose around Microsoft’s neck for some time will be no more.
Love him or loathe him, Microsoft under Steve Ballmer’s command seems to be getting its house in order in every department. From Windows 7, to Bing, to the cloud-based Office, and now Windows Mobile, there’s a definite feeling of resurgence for Microsoft.
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February 19th, 2010
I think it’s just an illusion of a house in order. Underneath there are big problems.
Enterprise users are not going to be happy to rewrite their apps. I predict they will migrate to Android before even considering Microsoft’s new Zune-like WP7S.
Consumers want apps. Microsoft doesn’t have any. It also has difficulty attracting developers to make mobile apps, as could be seen by the scant development on Windows Mobile in recent years.
Microsoft will not be able to match Android and iPhone in apps, and this will be a death knell.