Windows Mobile 7 'Maldives' test program reportedly on track for Q1 2010 release to OEMs
By Donald Melanson 
posted Nov 10th 2009 8:19PM
posted Nov 10th 2009 8:19PM
Ballmer may have wanted it to be out yesterday, but it looks like the initial release of Windows Mobile 7 may now finally, actually be in sight. According to ZDNet Taiwan, the mobile OS is now on track for a release to OEMs for testing (the so-called "Maldives" program) sometime in the first quarter of 2010, and will be launched publicly sometime in the third quarter of the year (or about a year after the release of Windows Mobile 6.5) -- all of which more or less lines up with earlier rumors of a release to manufacturing in Spring 2010. If past history is any indication, however, it seems likely that the earliest builds of the OS could be circulating around the usual channels well before that -- probably right on the heels of the release to OEMs.
Too little too late.
,,,,,and you know that how ? you have seen WM 7?
Who needs to see it when we've already seen Android and iPhoneOS?
I like the current windows mobile platform.. so I think windows 7 mobile is going to be Excellent.. I actually want it on my next phone or android depending on which has better hardware at the time.
Agreed. Too little too late. WinMo is as good as dead, no point in this upgrade. All WinMo users are going to end on the iPhone, Android, Pre or Nokia.
Why all the hate for WinMo7? Microsoft put a lot of time and effort into this and I'm sure it's going to be mind blowingly good!
BTW, believe it or not, Android and iPhoneOS aren't perfect, so it isn't going to be impossible to compete with them.
@David
By your logic, "Who needs to see what airplanes have to offer, we already have trains."
or
"What's this new fangled e-mail all about, we already have the post office!"
or perhaps more fitting
3 years ago when Apple first released the iPhone, did you say "Who needs to see new Apple's iPhone, we already have Windows Mobile, Palm OS, and Blackberries."
You see where this is going?
That's not hate, that's trolling.
If it's anything like the screenshots that were leaked a week or two ago .. We're dealing with major suckage here. Come on it didn't use subtle coloring (like the No switch should have been red tinted and the yes switch green) and the screens were quite busy.
Seems they tried and failed to imitate Android.
Here's me hoping that Microsoft comes out with an iPhone and Android killer OS.
Competition... the only thing that lets consumers win.
I see that the Microsoft rankbots are working efficiently tonight.
Seriously -- "Microsoft has put a lot of time and effort into this."
What, is a mobile OS a book report? A for effort?
Please.
Peeps,
Nobody is saying that MS doesn’t deserve a shot, they are saying that it is too late. Is it? It’s getting close! I think the Pre is nice, but also think that Palm has almost zero chance in the market.
Best of luck! But, Microsoft had half a decade head start and could have easily been the leader in the market.
Why can't the minority Microsoft fan boys ever get highest ranked here on engadget? Not.
I guess its the same reason that Microsoft isn't going to make the Windows Mobile 7 registry any lighter or a less bloated feature... because they can't help it. So sad.
cant w8 fir this.... well maybe i can
@what a surprise: Other than a flashier UI, what exactly is WinMo lacking that the other OSes have?
And by then we will have iPhone OS 4.0, Android 3.0 and WebOS 2.0 and MS will still be catching up. They really need to move faster if they want to stay in this game.
Clearly you're counting something wrong because this will be Windows Mobile SEVEN (7). Pretty sure that's 3 ahead of iPhone and even more over the others. GG
Not really, they have a solid platform, it just needs to address some of the areas that have been neglected, add a new paint job and all of a sudden it is back in the game. HTC and co will add sense or some other skin on top, so as long as it delivers a solid foundation it's all good.
Yeah, it's amazing that windows has had 6.5 chances to make huge improvements to their OS, and they are behind OS's that are in 1.x, 2.x, 3.x and will probably stay behind if the screen shots are anywhere near what it is going to actually look like. Besides, our friend up above is right, iPhone OS is probably going to get multitasking by then, who knows how many awesome things Android is going to get, and webOS is just going to keep pushing forward.
How long did it take apple to add MMS.. seriously.. Everyone needs to improve. I'm not happy with any of the current phone OS.
I wouldn't count any screenshots as final. Microsoft is notorious for not releasing the updated UI until the beta is released. This was the case with Aero in Vista as well as the Superbar on 7. Alphas that were previewed were missing them, and intentionally so. You don't need the slick UI to test to see if things are working, and a UI although extremely important is more or less a skin on the underlying OS, so it is something that they can take the time to polish and introduce later as it is less likely to cause bugs.
Remember when they thought the Internet was a fad? Why are they always the last one to the party?
Remember when they thought 640K was enough for anybody?
Remember when computers were the size of entire buildings?
Remember when Apple had a higher market share?
Remember when all computer interaction took place through a terminal?
Remember the time before all Engadget commenters were douches?
because they hate technology. they're just in it for the money.
why else would they still be charging when the vastly superiour Android OS is free.
Doesn't matter. As long as they're asking for money for this POS, more and more OEMs will jump ship.
By the time WinMo 7 is in the hands of actual PEOPLE, Apple will have 150,000 apps in the store. Oh yeah. And uh. A new version of OS X iPhone.
Get it Ballmer? A new one every year. Hurry up.
@mike
Because mike.. when you have vertical services to offer with the OS, such as zune integration, exchange, etc. and its what people want, then hardware manufacturers will pay the $15 per handset license for WM7. The linux crowd still hasnt figured out that because their OS is free doesnt mean people will want it.
"Remember the time before all Engadget commenters were douches?"
Don't try to go back too much in time, it hurts my head.
If MS makes similar transformation as they did from Vista to Win 7, I'm sold.
"If MS makes similar transformation as they did from Vista to Win 7, I'm sold. "
They'd have to release countless patches and updates (larger then the actual OS itself) and make Win 6.5 usable, and then slap some UI effects on it, label it '7' and ask you to pay up.
@p0p0
Pepperidge Farm does.
Soon to foolow Encarta, Money, MSN Direct........
I WILL BELIEVE WHEN I SEE IT and i'm not holdin my breath
why does everyone think hating on Microsoft makes them look cool?
Why do people think that no one out there suffered through earlier versions of Microsoft WM, and aren't in a forgiving mood about it?
@ Dster: If you're still bitter about old Win Mobile Oses, then a comments like "Let's hope it's better than the last pieces of crap OSes they released" or "I won't be holding my breath" or even "Doubt it'll run Crysis" would make more sense than "Too little, too late". Unless you have some sort of insight as to what it will be like?
Windows 7 is receiving critical acclaim despite Vista, Me and other disasters, so why can't WinMo7 turn out awesome?
Hi guy943,
I suppose I could give Microsoft the benefit of the doubt that they won't release garbage again, but they've given so very much evidence against this.
Also, there are now a plurality of real, quality options, which means I don't *have* to give them the benefit of the doubt. Nor does anyone else.
Therefore, too little, too late.
As for Windows 7, I am astounded that they got their act together (if indeed they have). I suppose they could't afford to keep screwing up their flagship product.
@kojo87
same reason people buy Mac computers
See that picture, thats what Ballmer looked like right before punching Jobs in the vagina. POW right in the baby maker.
i think you mean "hay-maker to the babymaker"
Windows mobile is DEAD! Long live anDROID!
Microsoft's got one shot to knock WM7 out of the park before Android 3.0 steamrolls it into obliteration.
/clutches his WinMo 6.5 phone and weeps softly.
Damn you, Microsoft! Fix this! Don't let this abomination go on! We've suffered enough!
I agree, I do think what is left of Microsoft's hopes in the mobile OS arena are riding entirely on WinMo7. If they botch it, I don't think they will be able to come back. The good news is that they have been on a role as for quality and interfaces lately (except for that cursed Office Ribbon), including the closely related ZuneHD. I sincerely see this thing having a solid chance, and with the potential convergence possibilities with Zune, Windows Media remote streaming, and Media Center, it could make for an interesting product. Of course MS has always dropped the ball on converging technologies and getting them to work together.
my friend, in this global smart phone race WinMo is the horse with the broken leg. Might as well take it out the back and put a bullet in its head to take it out of its misery. No point in letting the poor beast suffer any longer. The real stallions of the race, iPhone, Blackberry, Android, have left WinMo far behind.
I dont think either iphone os or web os are direct compeition as they are tied only to one or two phones. But rate at which android is developing WM7 would need to be something spectacular to be in the frame. I dont see even yearly release is good enough in this market. They probably need a modular platform and quarterly releases.
I could really see the competition between WM7 and Android. I'm a webOS developer and love my Pre, but if webOS doesn't branch to other phones it's going to be overwhelmed by all other devices which will probably be Android and Windows Mobile 7.
2010 will be interesting to say the least (lets not forget the other OS's that will be shown off).
I think MS should just strip it down to the kernel, and give it out to companies that are building winmo phones and let them redesign the whole thing to their liking.
HTC does a good job, im sure they could redesign the whole OS for them
It all depends on the...DEVELOPERS!
And in that regard Windows Mobile still has the clear advantage above the rest from a developer perspective. Lets just hope WM doesn't restrict it's developers too much (we all know it might get a tiny bit more limited for those wanting a stake in marketplace).
all the DEVELOPERS are dumping WinMo and migrating to Android and iPhone OS. No point sticking with a dead platform.
DEVELOPERS, DEVELOPERS, DEVELOPERS, DEVELOPERS, DEVELOPERS, DEVELOPERS, DEVELOPERS, DEVELOPERS, Yeah!
so it will be on XDA in a week?
Even if it is, i doubt it will even work on today's handsets (except the HD2) Anything with a 7200/7600/7500 series processor i would say will not work at all with it.