First, it was reported that Apple was talking to Verizon about getting the iPhone on its network in 2010. Then it was reported that Apple was actually working on new mobile devices for Verizon. With so much Apple blood in the Verizon water, it was only a matter of time before the Microsoft shark surfaced.
A new report in The Wall Street Journal suggests that Microsoft is also talking with Verizon about getting a device on its service. To be clear, this apparently is not just a standard new Windows Mobile device, as there are already plenty of those on the Verizon network. What this apparently is, is some sort of new device, designed in part by Microsoft, but developed by a third party. This device is said to include access to Microsoft’s upcoming Windows Marketplace for Mobile — its app store.
Once again, the codename “Pink” is being thrown out there. It’s been the subject of much debate over the past several months as to what Pink actually is. Some thought it was a Microsoft-built phone. Others thought it was simply the name of the Zune software tied into the Microsoft’s mobile experience. The WSJ report seems to indicate now that it’s a sort of cross between the two.
One thing seems clear: Microsoft is very interested in what both Apple and Google have done in the mobile space. Windows Mobile 6.5, which has been all but dubbed a “hold-over” until Windows Mobile 7 is ready, isn’t due until later this year. Windows Mobile 7 doesn’t seem likely to be on phones before late 2010, at the earliest. If Microsoft is thinking about branching off a bit with a new type of device/experience, that’s probably a smart play to stay in the rapidly evolving mobile game.
But can it score an exclusive deal with Verizon? That seems unlikely if Apple really is open to bringing its devices to the carrier as well. And how does Android play into the carrier’s plans?
Na rey na naaaa.. 50 50…
As I read the summary on WSJ – they say “in discussions with Verizon Wireless to launch a touch-screen multimedia cellphone on the carrier’s network” and “is aiming to produce a phone that extends the tech giant’s Windows Mobile cellphone operating system”
Why do you say it is “apparently not a Windows Mobile device”?
Well, okay, not a Windows Mobile device as we currently know it. It apparently would be designed in part by Microsoft and built by someone else — so I assume the focus would be on one device, at least at first. And Verizon already has other WM devices, so clearly this is something different.
I might as well switch from Verizon to AT&T in July.
With Microsoft against heavyweights like – RIM, iPhone, Android, Symbian on the Mobile OS marketplace, it looks like Microsoft is loosing its footing on the Mobile OS.
Probably it should try to buy one of them – RIM
For years Verizon was the undisputed king. It has only been recently that the iPhone has put a small dent into their armour. So it is no shock to me that they will now try and play catch up to get those customers back. I predict that they will have the iPhone, Gphone, and a Palm Pre within the next 2 years. The question is, will it be in time. Will those phones already be behind the times in cool? Who knows, but I hope it somehow gets me a decent sized phone. Why are they all so tiny?
Pink could be the name of a project to create multiple products around some idea.
This is great news for Verizon customers who don’t want to switch networks. VZW’s smartphone selection is weak.
Verizon is being very smart for talking to everyone. Windows Mobile is still a very strong player in the Smartphone arena. Combine that with an App Store and it can definitely take on Apple’s iPhone in a way that none of the other players can. It can do so because, unlike the others, it has a very strong SDK and programmer base that will allow it to expand and provide the apps that everyone will want to use. It already has 18000 apps in the wild and an installation framework. All it needs is the distribution framework and it will be able to provide the same power and ease of use.
The only thing that will stand in its way is unfair advertising, biased blog authors and reporter (like many of the ones on this blog), and unfair business practices (like Apple telling Verizon that it will not produce a product for them if they keep selling Windows Mobile devices for example). Price point means nothing when it comes to these devices as the iPhone has already proved.
*The only thing that will stand in its way is unfair advertising, biased blog authors and reporter (like many of the ones on this blog)*
That is hilarious. We happen to own both, a windows phone and an iPod Touch… there is no comparison in the ease of use of the two OS’s. In fact our windows phone is gathering dust in a drawer, while the iPod travels with us almost everywhere. Microsoft has its work cut out to just catch Apple, Google, and it looks like Palm.
Just scaling down your desktop OS is not a solution is 2009.
How does an iPod Touch replace your phone? I don’t get it.
I also own both and, like you, also only use my iPhone. But, there are still many applications that are still not available for the iPhone for various reasons.
Windows mobile is a huge platform when it comes to business applications. There are still not scanning solutions available for the iPhone whereas the Windows Mobile platform is full of them and they are used by hundreds of thousands of devices (my company owns 15 of them for our scanning purposes). The iPhone does not have any framework for printing whereas the Windows Mobile does. There are many, many, many other aspects of the framework that can be used. Further, it is much easier to administer and control in large business environments than any other platform since it integrates directly into the Microsoft Active Directory. Admins can control all aspects of the devices centrally. Apple’s “enterprise solution” is nothing more than a profile being uploaded to a phone with the ability to put restrictions on the phone (useless in some aspects since you can disable the safari but not other browser apps).
Yes, it has a long way to go to appeal to the millions of soccer moms who have purchased the iPhone, but it does not need to. There have always been many players in each market and they have always flourished.
As far as your comment about catching up to google goes, I have a question. Have you tried the G1? I own also a G1 and can tell you that it also has a long way to go to even catch up to Microsoft.
Oh, and talk about scaling down your OS to mobile… What do you think the iPhone runs? It runs a scaled down version of OS/X.
Windows Mobile is a lame platform. The current apps on its platform has no traction. MSFT will not be a strong competitor to Apple over the near, medium or long term.
Are you speaking based on experience or based on biased media, reporting, and blogging?
There are amazing apps for the Windows Mobile platform and as a whole, it has less garbage apps than the iPhone does. There are more business app than the iPhone does and the same number of social apps that the iPhone has (the important ones at least). Yes, it is lacking in games and farting applications but that is a good thing.
The iPhone is a great phone (I own one), but it is not without its faults. There are still a lot of functions that it can not perform such as editing documents and spreadsheets. It would not be hard for any company to top the iPhone given some improvement in user interface and application delivery.
The thought that Apple created the holy grail is a common thought, but it is misleading to believe that it can never be topped.
LOL some people call it verizoon because the service sucks. http://iamned.com/blog/ keep buying stocks
Worked for Microsoft in several different groups, mobility being one of them. The platform is ass and everyone knows it.
Funny, in Seattle Verizon provides the best coverage around but their hardware is outdated and late to the game much like many of Microsoft’s poorly executed initiatives.
It’s like one turd taking turns trying to shine another turd
All these crazy rumors are so blatantly mind share manipulation, it start to get really sad.
This would be great news and I hope its true.
They both are different from one another Well, okay, not a Windows Mobile device as we currently know it. It apparently would be designed in part by Microsoft and built by someone else — so I assume the focus would be on one device, at least at first. And Verizon already has other WM devices, so clearly this is something different.