Windows Mobile Louisville

Ok, so maybe this isn’t really funny, but in a way, it’s spot-on! Sometimes Microsoft DOES do things that make you think they haven’t got a clue! I have to appreciate the humor in this clip!

Recently, news was circulating from a NY times article that said Microsoft was going to reduce the amount of devices that ran Windows Mobile. 

 Turns out it was an editorial mess-up, and is not true.  So, we’re back to 140+ devices and growing!  That can be a good thing and a bad thing, as we’ve mentioned before.  Good, because choice is always nice, but bad, because it can be difficult to establish consistency when there are so many platforms out there…

Here is a shot of a Microsoft Roadmap, showing Windows Mobile 7 beta in 2009.

A few things:

1. Is this a genuine Roadmap? Perhaps
2. Even if we see a beta, it’s not likely to be made available for existing devices, similar to the Pocket Internet Explorer 6 situation (available on new devices this year only).
3. Todd Peters, VP of Marketing for Windows Mobile, was recently quoted as saying that Microsoft is limiting the number of phones with the operating system because, he said, the company does not want to have its efforts diluted over too many devices. “I’d rather have fewer devices and be more focused,” he said. That way “we get better integration” between phone and operating system.  Makes sense - iPhone application development has exploded because developers are writing for one form factor.  Microsoft would do good to reduce down from 140+ form factors!!!

Steve Ballmer will give his keynote speech at CES on Wednesday Jan 7th at 9:30pm EST.   Microsoft will have a live webcast available through their Virtual Pressroom. 

Curious what Steve will have to say about Windows Mobile.  Obviously the primary focus of his speech is going to be around Windows 7 (which I honestly could give a hoot about!), but I certainly hope he gives Windows Mobile the attention is desperately needs right now.  

Come on, Stevie!  It begins with you!

Terry Myerson was the leader of the Exchange Server 2003 and Exchange Server 2007 teams, and is now the head of Microsoft Mobile Communications Product Group.  The Windows Mobile product team falls under that area.

He was recently interviewed at Windows IT Pro, where he hinted at the Windows Mobile strategy:

“Microsoft’s strategy for Windows Mobile has always been to nail tough business requirements while not forgetting that all of us go home to our families and friends. And we want people to carry a single phone that crosses those two worlds seamlessly.”

I wonder if part of that strategy is “Get the product out the door faster, dammit!”

:)

For those of you who might have had the chance to play around with Microsoft Deepfish, the project has been tanked.

Who knows, we might see elements of it in Windows Mobile 8?!  In, perhaps, 2012?!  <grin>