Future Xperia phones may not rely on Windows Mobile, sez SE

We've known for what feels like ages that Sony Ericsson's Xperia X1 would be based on Windows Mobile, but we wouldn't count on the X2, X3 or X99 to just follow suit. At the launch of its digital marketing campaign for said handset, the firm made clear that future SE Xperia phones may not be based on Microsoft's OS, with Magnus Andersson, product manager for the X1, noting that "the brand is not tied into any specific technical platform." Unfortunately, he didn't elaborate nor give any indication what other systems we could eventually see, but at least we know that there will be life after the X1 in one form or another, right?

[r3n @ Sep 16th 2008 7:37AM]

Android!

[Kris @ Sep 16th 2008 7:43AM]

This was my first thought as well.... but then I remembered we're dealing with Sony here. It'll be their craptastic OS.

[Jack Storm @ Sep 16th 2008 8:06AM]

Why dont they bring out the, almost outdated, x1 before they talk about anything else already?

Seems like an HTC Touch HD w/ keyboard is gonna come out before the x1 (wishful thinking).

[Surur @ Sep 16th 2008 8:18AM]

This is not news. They said as much at 3GSM in the beginning of the year. Recycled news indeed.

20th February 2008
"The X1 is the first entry in Sony Ericsson's new "premium" (read, expensive) Xperia line; future models may be based on other operating systems. But observers say the company chose to stray from its Symbian/UIQ roots to reach out to corporate customers."
http://www.pcwelt.de/index.cfm?pid=829&pk=148064

[Rohit Kapur @ Sep 16th 2008 8:33AM]

Maybe. . . Or maybe they'll make a special OS for their Xperia line.

But wait, what'll they call it, then - OS. . . X?

Heh.

I hope it's Android though. This phone would be the perfect platform for Android to exploit.

[MikeG @ Sep 16th 2008 11:42AM]

Android - Agree!
T-Mobile announced it will start 3G soon and carry the X1 (speculation). Plus Google said it is working with T-Mobile and HTC on its phone. Sony Ericsson worked also with HTC... So it seems like it could happen. I hope so!

[r3n @ Sep 16th 2008 7:38AM]

Android!

[Totalfixation @ Sep 16th 2008 7:40AM]

maybe they wont be saying that when WM7 comes out.

[Pastry Chef @ Sep 16th 2008 9:14AM]

People thought that about WinMo 6 before it came out, too...

[maveric101 @ Sep 16th 2008 11:27AM]

i'm hoping MS will realize that most consumers will buy a device based more on the "wow" factor than actual functionality and capability. case in point: the iphone.

hopefully MS will have a more snazzy interface for WM7.

[Pastry Chef @ Sep 16th 2008 2:44PM]

In what ways are the the iPhone not functional or not capable? I find it extremely powerful. I love the ability to VNC or SSH in to remote computers. I find the browser to be top notch. I think the games can be very entertaining.

[TareX @ Sep 16th 2008 7:43AM]

1) Extremely old news. Maybe even reported by Engadget as well, like 5 months ago.
2) I wonder what "other OS", coming soon, will be on the other Xperia handsets.

The fact they won't frankly say ANDROID is a testimony to how terrified SE is from the prospect of nobody buying the laggy WM6.1 version.

[L @ Sep 16th 2008 7:54AM]

Symbian. S60 at first, the SF UI later on.

[solnyshok @ Sep 16th 2008 7:55AM]

Android! +1

[Halorin @ Sep 16th 2008 8:00AM]

Way to reel in those developers to develop for Sony's Xperia X1 panel platform. No better way to get those developers clamoring for the SDK than to say any future versions of their phone will make any work done for the X1 pointless.

[jakem @ Sep 16th 2008 8:15AM]

That was my first thought and as a result I don't think too much should be read into this. SE have obviously gone to a lot of trouble to develop the X1 and abandoning WinMo would mean that it's a wasted effort.

Personally, I think he had WinMo7 in mind rather than a non-MS OS and was just being too vague.

[Cunthor @ Sep 16th 2008 8:04AM]

Didn't SE buy Symbian UIQ? This could be where its going to.

[L @ Sep 16th 2008 8:13AM]

UIQ is basically dead. They fired 200 of the 375 people a couple of months ago, after the Symbian Foundation announcement.

[Dave Chappelle @ Sep 16th 2008 8:19AM]

WIN.


Xperia X1 is awesome.

"may not be based on windows OS" ok this is supposed to be news?

[Cybergypsy @ Sep 16th 2008 8:20AM]

Nice!

[mocax @ Sep 16th 2008 8:36AM]

LiMo

MOTOMAGX

[caz @ Sep 16th 2008 8:36AM]

Put a little uncertainty in the mind of the consumer. So will 3'rd party developers port their applications to this now? Nothing like buying something only to find out later that it is a dead platform.

[vince @ Sep 16th 2008 8:42AM]

Maybe the LIMO Linux platform?

[MikeWard1701 @ Sep 16th 2008 8:49AM]

Old news, reported by engadget earlier this year i believe.

Whether that statement is still valid is questionable now that the SDK has been released, they need to get their finger out and get this thing shipping already. Public opinion will tell them where they need to go OS wise if it turns out WM6.1 isn't all its cracked up to be. HTC have shown you can have smooth, fluid UIs on WM6.1 devices, and as we all know the X1 is a blinged-up HTC.

"Didn't SE buy Symbian UIQ? This could be where its going to."
My understanding (possibly wrong) is that Nokia bought up Symbian.

[y3k.nik @ Sep 16th 2008 8:55AM]

I thought Symbian foundation was owned by a group of companies, possibly both SE and Nokia along with many others like Samsung and such. I may be really really wrong here though.

[Sop @ Sep 16th 2008 9:53AM]

Yep. Symbian was owned mostly by Nokia with 49% and Samsung, SE and Moto having the rest. UIQ is part of Symbian as it's based on Symbian.
Nokia bought the rest of Symbian this year to make it open alliance while pretty much killing UIQ.

[thazlett @ Sep 16th 2008 9:01AM]

im sure android will end up on this thing 1 way or the other, someone will port it or whatever.

[Pdexter @ Sep 16th 2008 9:47AM]

Most probally open S60 5th edition as Eldar from Mobile-Review already told that there's S60 phones coming from SE in near future as they getting rid of Symbian UIQ as Nokia bought the whole thing this year.

[S @ Sep 16th 2008 10:23AM]

Cool Sony hardware + crappy software = no sale

[Exousia @ Sep 16th 2008 7:59PM]

Playstation 3?

[Christian @ Sep 16th 2008 12:31PM]

It'd be interesting where they'd go but I assume:
Symbian OS, they've been doing this on their P series and G series too if I remember
Android, Wonder if they'll make it somehow proprietary SE style?
Linux, well they allow PS3 to run it, why not continue mobile?

[Johan S @ Sep 16th 2008 12:42PM]

So far, all I have seen of this phone is it's horribly lagged responsiveness. I really hope they have a responsive phone when they launch this thing. The phone has a good CPU and all that, so it's probably all Microsoft's fault .. so I am glad they are looking at other operating systems.

[thazlett @ Sep 16th 2008 1:21PM]

indeed

[Lancelot @ Sep 17th 2008 1:03AM]

At least one mobile phone provider has the sense to move from Microsoft's "nightmare" OS..

[thedesolate1 @ Sep 16th 2008 11:38PM]

It looks like Sony is Listening to me in every post I make. First I mentioned viral marketing and then they started a viral marketing video. Then I said they are not focusing on the handsets and spending too much money on that so they released the video with the douche guy showing off the handset. Then I said the OS is not as polished as the hardware and blam! they are stuffing other OS into the Xperia devices of the future. =P And people if you dont believe me dig through all my previous posts on XPeria topics..these are crazy coincidences or what?

[pyrotech @ Sep 17th 2008 1:12AM]

Cookie?

[thedesolate1 @ Sep 18th 2008 12:00AM]

Yes please. and make that chocolate chip. =] SE are u listening? now send me my cookie!!!