Microsoft's "Pink" smartphone to be Microsoft-branded?
By Nilay Patel 
posted Jul 1st 2009 3:03PM
posted Jul 1st 2009 3:03PM
Ready for even more rumors about Windows Mobile 7 and Microsoft's mysterious "Pink" smartphone project? Good, cause we've got a few -- and the first is potentially huge. 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. What's more, Redmond wouldn't be letting third parties use this new UI -- Pink would be manufactured only by Sharp or Motorola, who've made Sidekicks in the past. It all makes sense, even if it does feel a bit like MS is knifing its partners in the back -- companies like HTC and Samsung have been equally aggressive in layering their own UIs like TouchFLO 3D and TouchWiz on top of WinMo, but it's another thing entirely to compete against Microsoft itself, especially now that AdWeek says Microsoft's selected an agency to develop a Pink ad campaign. Yeah, things are starting to get a little wild -- we haven't even mentioned the open questions of whether the Zune HD is running Tegra because it's based on Windows Mobile 7 Chassis 1, or whether Pink will launch on Verizon, or whether Zune will appear on other phones, or... you get the idea. Hey Microsoft -- you want to clear any of this up by shipping some products?Read - ZDNet
Read - AdWeek
Just make the Zune HD a phone. I'm too old for Pink.
Don't you mean young (too easy, but had to)
With all the erectile dysfunction drugs available these days, I'm not sure anyone is too old for pink :P
Seriously though - how is Microsoft creating a proprietary skin for devices that will bear their name backstabbing their partners? My guess is HTC and Samsung wouldn't be too keen on using an out-of-the box UI anyway. They'll want to put their own stamp on it, and odds are their UIs will be better anyway.
"Microsoft branded?" Kinda like the Zune, where Microsoft's name/logo is not on the product at all? (Because they're too embarrassed to put their name on the Zune, or because they're afraid putting their name on the Zune will taint the product's perception? You decide.)
Hello from not Seattle.
@ Paul
The Zune HD currently looks pretty damn nice and the Zune name can only go up from here.
give it a rest you troll
i'd rather have no logos or brand names on my device than have a bunch schlocked all over. they are trying to make Zune a recognizable brand in and of itself. seems to be working
@Quix
Uh, ok. Not sure what the heck that has to do with anything, but ya got your swipe at MS in, so thumbs up!
one of my buddies is directly involved in the danger team and pretty much told me that he does not deny any of these rumors and they are working on a "microsoft endorsed phone." and anytime he has told me that he does not deny the rumors, they have been almost completely true so maybe there is good things to come soon
There is some desperate anti MS trolling going on here. Just because people slam the iPhone constantly doesn't mean you are justified in doing the same BS regarding the Zune and the Pink project they are talking about.
@ Paul
Aren't you one of those Apple fanatics that like to run around screaming "hater" at people who are critical of Apple products?
So why on earth are you on a thread about a non Apple product doing the same thing?
Paul a. Chapel is the mother of all trolls.
What happened to Paul A. Chapel? Did that account get banned?
@Look_Around_You - Exactly. I can't imagine why PACman... err, Paul, hit the read link on this post.
"So now we're judging devices solely on their looks? "
It's all about looks, baby. Look at me with my black Mac Book sippin my half-caf, triple long latte at Starbucks. I'm so chic, and sophisticated.
@Paul "So now we're judging devices solely on their looks? I would wait until you actually use it before making that judgment. Vista used to look pretty cool too and was actually not that bad during the RC, and look at how that turned out.":
Strange, considering I seem to remember you making some pretty big assumptions about the Zune HD(in relation to any app store it may or may not have). Or is it that people aren't allowed to think anything positive about Microsoft products before they're released but negative ones are just fine?(and vice versa with Apple products, of course)
"So I'll leave you guys alone. Feel free to agree with each other and enjoy your day."
Oh, how mightily gracious of you.
Has anyone ever uttered the word "Zune" without being a little bit embarrassed? It has nothing to do with Microsoft. The word just sounds dumb. The "HD" ain't helping it.
Dont you think "iZuneHD" looks/sounds better, paula?
i'm pretty damn surprised nothing has been leaked yet. no videos, or pictures or really anything of the sorts. from what i read on a winmo site, windows 7 is supposed to ship to OEMs by fall of 09 (which is basically what...2-3 months away?) with devices released spring of 2010. MS actually able to keep a secret for once.
@ Paul a. Chapel
"Has anyone ever uttered the word "Zune" without being a little bit embarrassed?"
"So now we're judging devices solely on their looks?"
Hello? You just judged the Zune by its name, which is even worse than judging by looks. Beat it.
@valuepc
Reread the author's name in that 'zune ... embarassed' post you quoted, and then scroll up and down for other posts by the same author.
Please, engadget. Ban that awefull paul a. chapel troll. I want to read _FUNNY_ comments not flamewars.
i hope paul gets aids.
Dear Paul,
You know what? I seriously think that I should track you down and get rid of you. Here's the reason why: You don't have any life at all. Are you gay or mentally ill? I mean do you live with your parents but they're not just noticing you at all? I think you're just lacking love. Go out from your basement and earn real friends... I know it would be hard for you because you're obnoxious. You are one pathetic loser who doesn't even have a girlfriend and you masturbate at your Apple gadgets. Fuck you Paul. I hope that one of these days you'll realize what you are or better yet, I hope you choke to Death.
@OCEAN CLAK 31st Account: Well I'm not referring to you. So if you get offended by what I wrote to Paul, I won't apologize to you because I don't care who you are or what you do. Now that you mentioned you are with Paul on this one, I'm gonna give it to you too. Give your best friend Paul a. Chapel a blowjob.
@Brown Robott - go away homophobe.
@dudepro - wow, you're classy. With an attitude like that, I bet you have lots of friends who really like you, and who think you're a nice person.
@Malweran - how about they ban ALL trolls, including those who try to pretend they're not trolls by crafting their trollposts so they look like "replies" to Paul A Chapel ?
@Paul (a-Z) Chapel
Dude you have to tell the secret of your courage. You fight for totally wrong point and get bashed by more than twenty in every post. Your account has even been blocked earlier. Get a life. Stop trying to prove every non apple logo product as inferior. Apple does not suck but its crazy fanboys do. I am sure you get $5 for each of these post but still, your self esteem is more important than the money.
Brown Robott, seriously, are you 12? How is he "gay or mentally ill"? Where did gay come from because he talks about a phone all the time? Are you just a tad immature maybe?
How many rumors are in this post exactly?
OVER 9000!!!!
What?! 9000!! That cant be right!
Only if you read it in the next 30 minutes because these rumors can't be around all day.
great site
Meh, they will just tell you that they promised the the Zune HD wouldn't be a phone.
@Paul
Whereas some people look at the iPhone and say, "where did the mp3 player go?"
@ Paul
My hate for you grows with almost every post you make...
Paul, so you are saying that if you license a music protocol for devices, and it does not work out that well, it is crapware?
Please answer this question with a simple yes or no.
Actually, I have no problem with Microsoft trying to get into the phone provider market. They're doing just fine with WinMo, and soon will have WinMo7 to offer to third party phone makers. The thing is that I think they're extremely late to the party with an offering like Pink. From a business standpoint, they're acting like a lumbering General Motors, slow to react.
is there a way to limit Paul's posts to TUAW?
You did not answer the question in a way I requested you to, let me try to make this a little easier for you to understand by bringing it down to your level. Let's suppose a company licenses a way to distribute music. That music distribution does not succeed, and is eventually pulled from the market. Are you therefore saying that music distribution mechanism is crapware? Is that what you are implying with how you called PlaysForSure crapware?
Yes or No only, please. Any other response will be considered a Yes.
Why would he post there? Can't be an obnoxious troll if everyone agrees with your ridiculous statements.
@Paul So that's a yes?
[because people will just look at the ZuneHD and say, "but you can make calls with the iPhone."]
As much as I just want to disagree with Paul...he does have a point.
I've had many a people say how nice my P2 is...but then be like...
"Well, my iPhone makes calls. Oh...and it has the App Store"
(Even though technically my P2 makes calls to because I can BT link my phone...but anywho)
So yeah. It would be a smart move to take the ZuneHD premise...and basically make it a phone.
I don't buy that 'but the iPhone makes calls' shit. iTouch sales and iPod/MP3 sales tell you that not everybody wants to pay a stupid montly data fee just to play music. Are you guys that dumb?
Paul, it has been a few hours, and even though you claim to want to have a discussion, you are refusing to answer my question. I can only assume that means the answer is Yes.
Here is why I asked: 2005 Apple licensed iTunes to Motorola during a special press conference held by Apple. If Apple held the event, it was not some hack made by Motorola, but a real product produced by Apple. It has been a dismal failure.
Microsoft licenses a music playing technology to play on other devices, it fails, and you call it crapware.
Apple licenses a music playing technology to play on other devices, it fails. Can't iTunes be called crapware also being iTunes for other devices was done in the same fashion as PlaysForSure?
So we now have you calling Apple a sell-out, calling Apple an Apple hater, and iTunes is crapware. Keep adding to the list, Paul.
nohone, if you're implying that Fairplay (which is what Apple licensed to Motorola) was a dismal failure, then your head is even further up your ass than I thought. And believe me, that is saying something.
Since you like to play the "only answer yes or no" game, try this one on for size: Is the iTunes store, which uses Fairplay, the #1 music retailer in the United States? Yes or no only please. If you answer with anything other than yes or no, I'm going to assume that means yes.
You're right, this is a fun game!
Oh look, once again Paul cannot fight his own battles so Zak needs to step in, throw around his personal attacks, and attempt (but fail miserably) to fight for him.
Zak, I have no problem saying that iTunes sells the most music of all the online stores. So the answer would be yes. There is no shame in telling the real truth, not the "truth" that you, Paul, Jubei, etc. try to claim. Just as there is no shame in saying that, as much as you and your little friends like to claim it is a failure, Vista has sold more than OSX has sold. Just as there is no shame in saying that, as much as you and your little friends like to claim it is a failure, Windows Mobile has sold more than Apple has sold iPhones. And on down the line... But are you saying that iTunes on devices other than iPods, such as the ROKR, has been a wild success? Steve Jobs himself has said that there would be no more licensing of FairPlay, could it be because it has been a failure outside of Apple's ecosystem, that they don't want to suffer any more embarassing failures?
nohone - Really? You believe this has anything to do with Paul? I hope you're kidding, because nobody is that dumb.
And yes, the answer is yes. And your original question had nothing to do with other devices. Let me quote what you said back to you, since you apparently don't remember it:
"Let's suppose a company licenses a way to distribute music. That music distribution does not succeed"
Apple's was called Fairplay, and the iTunes store became the #1 music retailer in the US while using it. There is no part of that situation that equals failure. PlaysForSure equals total failure, and I'd like to see you try to argue against that.
And why are you bringing other things into it? Is it because you can't hold up your end of this argument without resorting to examples that have nothing to do with music licensing? I think it is.
You'll also note that nobody here has called Vista or WinMo a failure, which invalidates your straw man argument. However Microsoft themselves are admitting Vista is a failure by extending the deadline for XP out past the launch date for Win 7 so you can bypass Vista completely. If that doesn't scream "failure" to you, then you're just not paying attention.
And seriously. Which embarrassing failure is Apple suffering through? The aforementioned top retail spot in the US for music sales? Oh yeah, I'm sure they're crying into their piles of money every night. Way to spot the failure there, Sherlock.
"You'll also note that nobody here has called Vista or WinMo a failure"
You entire argument is invalid, as evidenced by that line. You know quite well that many Apple fanboys call Vista a failure. But when it is compared to an Apple product, namely OSX, suddenly you have selective memory and forget all about your claims about Vista. Of course, people such as yourself have no problem rewriting history to fit your Apple only world.
Paul, my man...how much weed do you have?
You're like...always faded bro.
Bring it on!
Never felt so compelled to try a MS phone before.
WinMo7 specsheet + tegra + zune + MS juggernaut resources = win
oh the backlash that will follow after microsoft does this. How many handsets will ditch WinMo for another operating system because of this?
Right on. If the Zune HD is sign of things to come this "pink" phone should be bad ass!
Right on. If the Zune HD is a sign of things to come this "pink" phone should be bad ass!
What backlash, and what back stabbing is Microsoft doing here? The talk about backstabbing makes it sounds like Microsoft is saying you can't develop anything now that we got it taken care of, but that's not the case.
The way I see it they are developing something more of a standard that says to developers, "here's what you can achieve, go at it".
Looks to htc to take that as a friendly challenge to make a even better phone.
LOL. Since when did juggernaut resources ever = win? Is the Zune more popular than the iPod? Despite MS's "juggernaut resources", no it isn't. Money doesn't make things good. Also, implying that Zune = win... well that = fail.
@Dion
Year of the Android platform?
Could this be like Android, where the "MS" branded phones get some features the plain WinMo 7 phones don't get?
@SKI - most useful comment yet. This sound likely to be the case. If you are going to make a phone with project pink then it has to be branded. Seems to make sense.
So basically its a windows mobile version of a sidekick instead of using the danger os
if it runs on tegra and winmo 7 it will be amazing
Not for nothing, but we don't know if winmo 7 will be any good... Trust me, I hope it is, I'm the guy that still uses WinMo and likes it, but as an out of the box product, windows mobile as a LONG way to go... SPB makes it pretty freaking amazing though.
Microsoft making hardware and software... I smell lawsuit in the works from other manufacturers
Apple does it all the time.
What do lawsuits smell like?
Or Red Alert Ring of Death issues?
"Sorry I couldn't make it to the phone right now. I'm either at work, otherwise occupied, or my phone has RROD'd. Please leave a message."
There were no lawsuits with Zune, why would there be lawsuits with Pink? I highly doubt Microsoft was stupid enough to put anything in the contracts saying that Microsoft couldn't use their software on their own hardware.
I was referring to companies like HTC, Samsung, LG, etc.
No. This will answer your question. Like apple, they say you can't not install there program in other device than the one made by apple right? This is licensed and in the EULA. Same as MS they can just make a deal with whom ever they want. They won't be a problem as long as they don't become a monopoly. (look at the iPhone, how many anti-iPhone are out there not compare to when they lunch.) Nothing much.
If the rumors are real, then there is a phone version of the zune hd.
all it needs is some buttons
The rumor I heard is that the Zune software is already running on WinMo 6.1, just hasn't been released. Who knows.
this could be interesting.
Looking forward to what MSFT has to offer.
Hey APPL, this is the quality and maturity of fanboys you have, alarming huh?
Paul a. Chapel @ Jul 1st 2009 8:14AM
Right after I move out of your mother's bedroom.
Not to be too much of a dick, but it's AAPL not APPL.
But Nilay, if they just shipped you products they wouldn't be able to snicker at the rumor mills. I, for one, can see them all sitting around a conference table watching the Engadget blog comments roll in and laughing.
perfect phone for the pussified american male.. the pink!
No guy in San Fransisco will go without one!
.. and for his sister, the iPod!
You just ruined pink for me :(
HTC can't really say anything having decided to jump on the android bandwagon. I think the iPod and iPhone proves that people want a simple and integrated experience even if it is perceived to be controlling. Microsoft released that with the Zune and the only way forward is a Zune phone. 20 devices that have identity issues is not a way to push Windows Mobile, the only way Microsoft can compete with the iPhone is to push a phone that does better, but is a simple and unified as the iPhone platform.
Yeah but how well did this 'do it our selves' approach work with the Zune? Still waiting on them to do "better" than iPod and iPod Touchs.
@Dave95
"Better" as in how?
Popularity? Sure it's not as popular, granted.
Use? I like the Zune interface better than any iPod I've ever used, granted I've never owned one.
Sound Quality? If there is can you really hear a difference?
Stop, stop with the intelligent observations on this website LJKelley. We can't have any of that. If you don't spew crap and hate, your not in!!!!
/sarcasm
Waiting for WinMo7 for my next phone...will it be worth?
I think by that time Apple will have iPhone 5.0, Android will have 3.0 and Palm will have Pre 4.
Symbian S60 will be 10th generation and UIQ will be completely dead by then.
Worth the wait?
Best guess on this subject.... and thats all anyone is really doing is guessing
Pink is not what everyone presumes it is.. but instead its "sidekick version 2.0" IE the next version of the closed box that has been running on hiptops from danger for ages.. with zune stuff built in, and microsoft branding to replace the danger branding.. running on winmobile codebase rather than whatever the current sidekicks run on.. Is this really any different from the current setup? Yes this device is in competition with other winmobile phones, but no more or less so than the current MS owned danger based sidekicks on the market today?
I guess I don't see that as a bad thing.
The sidekick was always a good phone. It was just a phone that got taken over by the tweens.
If the MS influence lets them put out a more modern phone with a better OS yet still be just a sidekick 2.0 I think they'll have a winner on their hands.
"we haven't even mentioned the open questions of whether the Zune HD is running Tegra"
Wasn't that confirmed by zuneinsider?
It was, not sure why it's referred to as an open question in this entry.
Did you try reading the rest of the words in the sentence?
Yeah, as Screw Harry says read the whole thing...
"we haven't even mentioned the open questions of whether the Zune HD is running Tegra *because* it's based on Windows Mobile 7 Chassis 1"
It seems early to base firmware on WinMo7, but I do think that a modified WinMo7 Chassis 1 is in the HD's future.
you had me at Microsoft and Branded Phone....if MS has a zune Phone coming out...I want it and want it now! I been waiting for years for something like this to materialize. Screw the Apple fanboys, they can keep their overpriced Apple junk made my Hippy Dippy Trippy Steve Jobes, i'll party with a keg and Bill Gates and play withe a Zune Phone till the day i die. MS FTW...except Vista Launch...we want to forget about the Dark Ages.
"You had me at Microsoft and Branded Phone???"
Wow, *you're* one to use the word "fanboys"...
Enjoy that Bill Gates kegger. Or something.
they better announce something soon. I'm very close in buying an iPhone - which would be my 1st Apple product.
I love my zune and the ZuneHD looks really sweet, but I want a convergence device like the iPhone. If Microsoft doesn't announce something SOON, they'll lose me as a customer in this type of device for 2 years (the length of a phone contract)
I don't see this as MS "stabbing it's partners in the back". How many phone manufacturers would jump on the opportunity to license Apple's iPhone OS, even if they had to compete against the iPhone itself? Answer: most of them.
HTC, Samsung, and LG have all unleashed custom UI's for WinMo, each with distinct advantages that will appeal to different types of users. This could be very smart for MS, positioning WinMo as an underlying architecture rather than a flame-catching face on smartphones. With Google trying to heavily restrict Android customizing by OEMs, Apple maintaining a closed and locked system, S60 falling far behind, and LinMo variants being support and user intensive, this could be a good move for MS AND their partners. Releasing their own hardware guarantees that they will INCREASE resources given to developing and evolving the WinMo core, benefiting all partners.
hey vegeta
I just bought an iPhone 3GS and its probably the best phone I've ever used, but I desperately want to get back to the Microsoft side. I feel like I've betrayed everything I stand for by caving and buying an Apple device.
Please Microsoft, please make a phone that runs as smoothly as the iPhone. I've given up on Nokia, check back in a year.
@Quix
Uh, ok. Not sure what the heck that has to do with anything, but ya got your swipe at MS in, so thumbs up!
I'm actually all for MS releasing smartphones. I think we'd have better and more frequent firmware updates.
I've been using HTC phones for years and their hardware is quite primitive compared to the iPhone - it might help out WM image if they had slim phones with large screens like the iPhone. The Toshiba TG01 is the only one that appears to have better hardware than the iPhone and it runs WM. HTC phones really are obsolete 2 years before we get a model in the US. Perhaps HTC has more current hardware on Asian carriers but the crap we get on Sprint is about as sleek and sexy as a UPS truck (HTC) compared to a BMW roadster (iphone or Toshiba TG01).
I am excited to see what this will be like but for some reason the words [targeted at the sidekick market] turn me off
so when they load up android or symbian and ditch microsofts os, this will be a good product? windows mobile, get with the time... its 2009 not 1993