Steve, I say this as a close watcher of the industry and a general fan of technology: If you're really serious when you say, "The software that's gonna be most popular in those phones is gonna be software that's sold by somebody who doesn't make their own phone," then I hope you're comfortable with it being your epitaph.
There's still time for Microsoft to turn things around and get back into the game, but that window closes a little bit more each day. One day in the not-so-distant future, it will be closed for good. Don't be left standing out in the cold.
It could completely close, and they could easily take it back. You have to figure that 6.5 was just a visual update. Once Windows Mobile 7 hits it's platform will be completely setup to take back it's share and more. It seems like they are really connecting their business side right into their new systems. They are going to make this a new start for business and the consumer market. If they are going to rework everything and make sure it's perfect they have the R&D to back it up. Lets just hope they put it all together correctly. I wouldn't doubt it if Windows Mobile 7 is already complete and they are just extending it and integrating it with everything they can find.
Like what, in x amount of time, the general population will refuse to use some product from MS because it didnt come out in some artificial time frame?
@Templarian: "It could completely close, and they could easily take it back."
Easily? One of the hardest things to change is consumer habits and mindset. Ford ceded the top spot in the U.S. auto industry to GM waaay back in 20's or 30's. And it took 30 years of GM's bumbling and a near-catastrophic economic meltdown for Ford to take back number one. If that doesn't convince you, ask Yahoo about Google. Or Dell, Sony, Microsoft, HP, Samsung, Creative and Sansa about iPod. You might even ask Apple about Windows. It's even harder if you used to be dominant and fell behind, because you have the added stigma of your-product-must-be-really-crappy-if-you-couldn't-hold-on-to-the-top-spot.
Microsoft's job is even more difficult because after years and years of failed product launches and billions upon billions of shareholder's money poured down the drain, Microsoft's board hasn't expressed the least bit of dissatisfaction over the presiding CEO's performance. Seriously, after the string of failures, why is Ballmer not even in lukewarm (forget about hot) water? If this were GE or one of Warren Buffett's holdings, he'd have been gone a long time.
Then again, Ballmer has the best qualification to be Microsoft CEO: he was Gill Gates' college buddy.
Why do you say that? Christian is absolutely right. Don't let your bias in favor of MS blind you to the facts on the ground.
They should pretty much only worry about the enterprise anyway. That's where their strengths lie. Microsoft doesn't *need* to be a consumer mobile company that makes for phones for teenagers and soccer moms.
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Steve, I say this as a close watcher of the industry and a general fan of technology: If you're really serious when you say, "The software that's gonna be most popular in those phones is gonna be software that's sold by somebody who doesn't make their own phone," then I hope you're comfortable with it being your epitaph.
There's still time for Microsoft to turn things around and get back into the game, but that window closes a little bit more each day. One day in the not-so-distant future, it will be closed for good. Don't be left standing out in the cold.
It could completely close, and they could easily take it back. You have to figure that 6.5 was just a visual update. Once Windows Mobile 7 hits it's platform will be completely setup to take back it's share and more. It seems like they are really connecting their business side right into their new systems. They are going to make this a new start for business and the consumer market. If they are going to rework everything and make sure it's perfect they have the R&D to back it up. Lets just hope they put it all together correctly. I wouldn't doubt it if Windows Mobile 7 is already complete and they are just extending it and integrating it with everything they can find.
That is the most asinine thing I have ever herd.
Like what, in x amount of time, the general population will refuse to use some product from MS because it didnt come out in some artificial time frame?
@Templarian: "It could completely close, and they could easily take it back."
Easily? One of the hardest things to change is consumer habits and mindset. Ford ceded the top spot in the U.S. auto industry to GM waaay back in 20's or 30's. And it took 30 years of GM's bumbling and a near-catastrophic economic meltdown for Ford to take back number one. If that doesn't convince you, ask Yahoo about Google. Or Dell, Sony, Microsoft, HP, Samsung, Creative and Sansa about iPod. You might even ask Apple about Windows. It's even harder if you used to be dominant and fell behind, because you have the added stigma of your-product-must-be-really-crappy-if-you-couldn't-hold-on-to-the-top-spot.
Microsoft's job is even more difficult because after years and years of failed product launches and billions upon billions of shareholder's money poured down the drain, Microsoft's board hasn't expressed the least bit of dissatisfaction over the presiding CEO's performance. Seriously, after the string of failures, why is Ballmer not even in lukewarm (forget about hot) water? If this were GE or one of Warren Buffett's holdings, he'd have been gone a long time.
Then again, Ballmer has the best qualification to be Microsoft CEO: he was Gill Gates' college buddy.
If you try harder, you can make your douchey analytical comment even douchier.
@10minutehobo
Why do you say that? Christian is absolutely right. Don't let your bias in favor of MS blind you to the facts on the ground.
They should pretty much only worry about the enterprise anyway. That's where their strengths lie. Microsoft doesn't *need* to be a consumer mobile company that makes for phones for teenagers and soccer moms.