Microsoft insists it's not making a phone, rumored to be rebranding WinMo to "Windows Phone"
By Nilay Patel 
posted February 6th 2009 12:10PM
posted February 6th 2009 12:10PM
We're just ten days away from whatever Microsoft has to announce at Mobile World Congress, and it looks like the company is trying to put a halt to the endless rumors that it's developing a phone: WinMo director Scott Rockfield told CNET it's not happening, and another Microsoft spokesman just denied it to the Wall Street Journal. That should be enough to shut people up, right? Of course not -- no denials by anyone ever have been -- but unless Stiv Ballmers actually pulls a Zunephone out of his pocket next week, we're going to assume that Microsoft is on the level with us, persistent rumors of some crazy Tegra-powered superphone notwithstanding. We are willing to believe that the company is planning on rebranding Windows Mobile as "Windows Phone," however -- yeah, it's a Digitimes rumor, but it makes a lot of sense to us, and it's an easy way to capitalize on the launch of a new version. We'll see what happens, we suppose -- honestly, we just want a US launch of the Compulab Exeda.P.S.- Mary Jo Foley at ZDNet says what's more likely is that Microsoft is working on several Windows Mobile reference hardware designs -- including one based on Tegra -- which we find much more believable and lines up nicely with some other whispers we've heard.
[Via PhoneMag]
Read - WSJ, "Microsoft: Once Again, We're Not Making a Smartphone"
Read - CNET, "Nvidia-based Microsoft smartphone coming?"
Read - Digitimes, "Windows Mobile phones to become just Windows phones, say sources"
Sad to think that anyone could possibly put such an importance towards a stoopid ass'd cellphone.
For anyone to troll such a topic, obviously has issues way beyond anything anyone of us would
want to deal with. You do have to have a certain amount of sympathy for children like iEye, who have'nt
yet begun to understand nor seperate reality from toys. An gainefully employed adult would never
dedicate such energy towards trolling iphones. *it's sick*
@ Elyria711
We really could've done without your rant. It's Friday damnit. Have some fun? Noone takes iEye seriously. We know this. That's what makes it fun. Stupid.
I'm pretty sure iEye takes iEye seriously.
BlurMagic
Fun ? ---- NO
Pathetic ? --- YES
WinPho?
WinPho for sure! I doubt the market for non-phone PDA's is relevant anymore!
I already call my Diamond a "Windows phone" as opposed to saying it "runs Windows Mobile." It makes a lot more sense and doesn't lead to annoying follow-up questions.
Will Engadget Mobile be changing its name any time soon?
Engadget and Gizmodo are doing their part for apple, I can just imagine a person who has no clue about zune decide to Google search for it, if they keep coming across this same picture of zune30, which is not the greatest of design and then compare it to apples iPod, I’m sure that will sway them to get an iPod before they even looking at what each device offers. I thought this site was for people who love gadgets and was unbiased in their reviews. UPDATE THE PICTURE!!!!!
GREAT PRESS PICTURES HERE.
http://www.zune.net/en-us/press/pressresources.htm
Zunephone schmunephone. If you want a GOOD WinMo phone, look at the HTC Diamond or Touch Pro. Downright EXCELLENT media capability, and a very solid phone, the best WM Phone I've ever seen. I had to get one, ironically just as I was mulling around the thought of ditching the platform, the best phone I've ever used comes around. If it were Zune Pass compatible, it'd be litteral perfection.
try this:
http://mobilitysite.com/2008/03/syncing-zune-pass-songs-to-the-tilt/
don't know if it'll work on the touch pro or diamond, don't see a reason why it shouldn't if it did on the tilt. I have not tried it since I wasn't even aware of this zune pass thing before I read your comment.
This is wonderful news. I certainly hope that MS the biggest "me too" company on the planet, will incorporate the same strategy that screwed their "Played Fer Sure" partners. Hopefully this seemingly new initiative by MS will have deep ties with the Zune stillborn ecosystem and DRM. That way, WinMobile partners will have zero support for this supposedly innovative initiative from Miscreantsoft.
so, what you're saying is that you hope that microsoft will just incorporate the zune interface into winmo, and then winmo OEMs will not longer use winmo?
first off, let me ask you what any other smartphone OS they would use? Apple won't license out iPhone OS, because then the light will come that the only reason it runs as bad as it does on the iphone is because it's incredibly optimized. A development team for linux costs a lot of money, and then they have to develop a way to get 3rd party applications.
And let me ask you, what screwed the zune over? was it the raving hordes of raving apple fanbois that raved about how much it sucked compared to the ipod, or about how they did 0 TV advertisement for the first year or so, the only real information source for casual tech people who would buy an MP3 player?
Way to keep expectations down - Using an old Zune 30 stock photo, and the Windows Mobile 5 version. Obviously Engadget is expecting the worse.