Microsoft spokesperson clarifies report of limiting number of WinMo phones
By Donald Melanson 
posted Jan 16th 2009 2:41PM
posted Jan 16th 2009 2:41PM
The Windows Mobile world got shook up a little earlier this month when Microsoft's VP of Marketing for WinMo said that the company was looking to cut back on the total number phones out there in order to "be more focused," but it now looks like that may not entirely be the case. According to TamsPPC, a spokesperson from Microsoft Austria has relayed the message that while Microsoft's stepped-up efforts to work with its partners may well result in fewer phones, "the implication in The New York Times that Microsoft will limit the number of Windows Mobile devices is not accurate." So, it seems that Microsoft isn't exactly throwing a firm number out there, but it also seems like it won't be too upset if fewer substandard phones make it to market.
Microsoft should make their own phone with a specialized form of WinMo to compete with the Pre and iPhone. If they can put it on every carrier they could dominate the cellphone market.
BTW, should I get the Moto Q9c, a BlackBerry, or a HTC PPC6800? I am stuck on US Cellular and can't decide between them.
http://www.uscc.com/uscellular/SilverStream/Pages/b_showphone.html?zip=61270&mkt=605970&tm=0
I am leaning to the Q9c because I like the color (lime FTW!) and I don't know the difference between WinMo 6 and WinMo 6 Professional.
WinMo Pro is most different to due to the touch screen component which is missing on what used to be called "WinMo Smartphone".
Hehe, M$ is not going to start blocking people from access. They'll just go up on the cost to the undesirables. Ooops, I mean give deep discounts to the desirables. The market will take care of the rest.
Yeah, the iPhone and Pre certainly do reveal a weakness in the "platform distributor" business model that they have. Makes Palm's 2004 foray into that world look even more blind. If that is possible.
i had a Q9c on Verizon before i just bought this Treo 700wx that im typing this message from now. i can tell u that until i got the 6.1 Windows update on my Q, it was the buggiest phone i have ever owned. but the update literally fixed everything, and now im starting to miss it while usng this semi buggy Treo.
WinMo Pro runs alot more apps and is much easier to navigate because of the touch screen.
i havent used the other phones but the Q9c is a good phone but ONLY if it has the 6.1 update (at least on Verizon anyway).
just my 2 cents on that phone at least.
Thanks for the input, I'll try the HTC and see if I like it better then the Q9c. I know someone that has a Q9c and I will compare them side by side.
@SKI: "Microsoft should make their own phone with a specialized form of WinMo to compete with the Pre and iPhone. If they can put it on every carrier they could dominate the cellphone market."
That would sound cool, wouldn't it? But it'd be a far too risky move. By making their own phone, they'd be competing with the hardware makers they've been licensing their OS to. The hardware makers (which there are many) might feel a lot more pressure if Microsoft's phone actually does get successful, and might dump WinMo for Android instead. That'd definitely push consumers away from Microsoft, and Microsoft ends up being the loser if their phone doesn't compete as well (and considering it's Microsoft first own phone, and that WinMo still isn't too consumer friendly) and it'd just tank. Also, how certain are we that Microsoft won't strip some of the new WinMo functionality off of the one for the other hardware makers? It's just too much.
It'd just be better to make a mobile OS that's much more flexible and versatile, as well as robust and great with many unique features, than going the independent route. Android is looking in the direction, and so should WinMo.
This sounds like a pre-emptive PR move. A PR move that will fail if you see through it.
At the end of 2009, when they sell fewer phones AND fewer models (trying to cover the PR symantics) they will proudly stand before the masses and say "We meant to do that."
If they were the hardware manufacturer, reducing production lines and increasing product focus makes sense. Microsoft is not the manufacturer, so they won't see production savings. This move may irritate manufacturers enough to reduce models AND total sales which should result in a reduction in sales and revenue for Microsoft. Yea, that's wise!