Windows Mobile 7 rumors coalesce around Q4 launch, MWC announcement
By Thomas Ricker 
posted January 22nd 2010 4:57AM
posted January 22nd 2010 4:57AM
While DigiTimes isn't our go-to source for all things Microsoft, the Taiwanese tattler does have its finger on the pulse of the Taiwanese / Chinese manufacturing juggernaut. As such, we expect it to be privy to information related to HTC, Acer, and ASUS handsets. So lean in close when it cites "sources familiar to Microsoft's roadmap" in claiming a September 2010 release of Windows Mobile 7 to its handset partners -- the same month pegged by that LG leak last week. That should translate into consumer availability by the end of Q4, or Q1 2011 at the latest. As it's stated, WinMo7 will bring an improved interface, browsing, and multimedia experience with integrated support for Zune, Xbox Live, and Silverlight; nothing we haven't heard before (and long wished for). DigiTimes claims that only English and "common European languages" will be available initially with Asian localization coming in 2011. Oh, and it'll be announced at Mobile World Congress. One thing's clear: the rapid convergence of the rumor mill around dates and feature sets has us very excited about Microsoft's chances at resurrecting its smartphone soul in time for the holidays. As such, we'll be at Mobile World Congress in force to bring you the full story starting February 15th. It's going to be good.
@Ahmed Eltawil
um... the Zune HD is built on Windows CE 6.0
Windows Mobile is DONE SON
He also said that WiMax handsets woould be coming in 2010! :D
From what I've heard they're taking a stronger hand with manufacturers and software developers to build a more cohesive user experience. That can only be a good thing for them in my book.
And it's certainly not done as a platform - RIM requires additional software for enterprise not to mention support contracts, and the iPhone isn't exactly business-class if you want to use Exchange. People should be wary of confusing the consumer market with what works in business.
@reticulate
+1
I manage our BES and WinMo environment. Currently blackberrys outnumber winmo 10-1. Not because it's what I want, but because for so long Blackberrys ruled with email. WinMo is just fine for email with exchange if you just enforce a password, but there are so many more options that BES offers.
Exchange 2010 starts to give all kinds of sweet policies that we could not enforce before and I'm sick of spending extra money to maintain a BES infrastructure. Plus the fact I can't stand everything relies on RIMs network. I don't need another point of failure to worry about.
I'm pretty excited to reverse my WinMo and BB numbers over the next year or so.
@Dorf And this is the thing - people seem to forget that Microsoft isn't after Apple in the mobile area, they're after RIM. If they can offer an administrative and end-user experience that matches a Blackberry, then they've more or less won.
The consumer space is small potatoes compared with enterprise. Apple have no intention of entering that space beyond design firms and whatever that use Macs exlusively, which leaves the vast majority of the business sector to exactly two companies. If you can sell a completely packaged solution that's built-in to an environment you're already running with no additional points of failure, then the guys upstairs are going to sign before you finish telling them about it.
Give me my Windroid already!
@DoubleDutch89
I hate the fact that now mobile phones are more and more like little netbooks / notebooks.
especially the text crazed people who owns it.
I have no other complaints except for the ones I have less respect for than I respect insects who cause traffic or accidents by using TEXT or Web browsing as they drive in low/high speed.
Now the advance technology on recigition of mobile phones in cars is great, Automatically detects the phone when the driver sits, and connects it via Bluetooth.
Now only if they can advance even more and detect it then Disable all web browsing/texting features of the phone and have this passed by state laws with alerting security features. that way if they temper with it in any ways it can cause an alert and a fair amount of fee of 1000 every attempt of modding, would be fantastic.
I really dont mind flipping cars or bashing into others, but I do care about getting from point A to point B slowly
Idk for sure, but I'd bet on seeing a Zune Phone by the end of the year. But, Reticulates' comment on WinMo going after RIM is true, but I'm sure they'd like to capture a good portion of the personal phone market. Also, RIM costs a lot more $ to maintain upkeep on all of its middleware (no stranger to outages either). I've seen in practice how efficient Exchange based systems are. Personally, I think a lot of RIMs success with Blackberry (a name chosen by a seperate name/ branding company) is brand recognition, congress and even the president use RIM devices. Anyway, for those of you actually in the wireless communication industry you can go to www.windowsphoneexpert.com/ to take short e-courses and earn points you can use to get free swag. I got an xbox 360 controller so far. :) Good day
Engadget, please just skip covering WM7 at the conference. Cover anything else, everything else, just don't cover WM7. I'd like others who know how to cover non-iPhone material to get the first chance to judge the new OS, fairly and accurately and with substance to back up any criticisms, so that the ball gets rolling in the right direction from the get-go. Please tell Gizmodo to do the same. Once it's been out for a while and people have a fair perception of the OS, then, and only then, should you begin to take massive dumps on it because the homescreen has information on it rather than a bunch of shiny icons (unless that's what the new OS has, in which case you guys might like it and I'll write it off entirely). I heard iPhone 4 is coming out, so go ahead and distract yourselves with that. Have fun, OK? We won't miss you, we promise.
This is what i heard from Microsoft
"Microsoft plans to align its consumer vision and grow opportunities for the mobile industry as a whole"
http://www.fonearena.com/blog/2010/01/23/microsoft-and-windows-mobile-mobile-world-congress-2010.html
@vRUN 'This is what i heard from Microsoft
"Microsoft plans to align its consumer vision and grow opportunities for the mobile industry as a whole" '
That statement sounds like it was either lifted from a Dilbert cartoon strip or created using one of the online biz-speak bullshit generators. Par for the course from Ballmer & Co.
Show a Zune HD to people, and everyone already thinks its some fancy new phone they want to play with, and W7 has a positive image, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that MS doesn't screw the pooch here.
I'm ready to say bye-bye to blackberry.