Microsoft's Project Pink finally bearing fruit in 2010 with two self-branded phones?
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Sep 19th 2009 7:59PM
posted Sep 19th 2009 7:59PM
The concept of a self-branded Microsoft phone (or two) actually making it to market is more believable than ever. A deterrent frequently cited in years past was Microsoft's vested interest in keeping its Windows Mobile hardware partners happy -- but as even their staunchest supporters (think HTC and LG) have turned to Android to shore up their smartphone lineups, it'd be far less of a backstabbing move on Redmond's part to get into the business next year than it would've been in, say, 2006 or even 2008. Add in the fact that the Zune HD shares 99 percent of its DNA with what could be a top-notch Windows Mobile-beating smartphone, and... well, it'd actually be a little ridiculous at this point if they didn't move in that direction, wouldn't it?This discussion takes us back once again to Project Pink, the oft-rumored secret package of hardware, software, and services (or some combination thereof) allegedly being developed deep within Microsoft's skunkworks. Last we'd heard it'd be based on Windows Mobile 7 Chassis 1 with a heavy dose of 2009-spec components capable of chewing through processor-intensive apps and games, and now 9to5Mac says it's received information that Microsoft will be releasing two Pink devices next year, likely at CES. We've heard for a long time that Pink is one of the fruits (perhaps the only fruit?) of the company's Danger acquisition, and to that end, the Pink devices will apparently be sourced from Sharp -- Danger's primary Hiptop ODM, up to and including the Sidekick LX 2009 -- and will feature "Microsoft+Sharp" co-branding, not unlike Garmin Asus. The handsets are said to be codenamed "Turtle" and "Pure," both sliders of some sort with Pure possibly destined for Verizon. As you might expect from a product developed with Danger, it'll feature tight app store support with carrier integration, but otherwise, there's nothing else to this latest noise. Considering Danger's utter lack of experience with Windows Mobile, that could account for the amount of time it's taking for Microsoft to show its Pink cards -- assuming it's all WinMo- or WinCE-based to begin with. That would also imply that the company would have to start revealing details on its primary next-gen mobile platform in January, which gives 6.5 extraordinarily little breathing room at the top of the food chain.
Of course, 9to5Mac isn't exactly a bastion of reliable Microsoft banter -- we turn to the likes of Mary Jo Foley for that, who's been providing much of the guidance on Pink so far -- but it's an interesting rumor that we think holds far more water than The Inquirer's bunk piece from a little under a year ago. Let's not forget that Danger has a history of procuring its own hardware, and that precedent has transferred to Microsoft by virtue of the purchase. If we see Microsoft+Sharp gear with GSM radios bow in a little over three months, you won't find our jaws on the floor.
I think it would be awesome for Microsoft to give $100 trade-in credit for anybody who trades in an iphone for it
if windows mobile is on it, it will suck so hard
HOWEVER a Zune HD phone would be SO TIGHT
once they polish up the browser, etc. and get it to sync with my macbook
other than that, tegra and the new UI are powerful and slick
Here we go again...... ZUNEHD RUNS WINDOWSCE.
I'm very tempted to buy the ZuneHD. But I don't want to carry around a phone and a music device ZunePhone. Count me in.
Thanks for sharing the rumour. It's not long since I wrote a blog post predicting this, in which I explained why it seems inevitable:-
http://www.timacheson.com/Blog/2009/aug/zune_hd_portable_media_player_launch_date_announced#comment49
I'm glad you mentioned Zune HD in this context: "the fact that the Zune HD shares 99 percent of its DNA with what could be a top-notch Windows Mobile-beating smartphone". To quote my own original blog post:
"I predict that by 2012 Microsoft will launch something that could be described as a Zune phone."
If it's the same as they're giving T-Mo, count me out. If it's going to look closer to what they sell to docomo, au, or Softbank then they might actually have a decent seller on their hands.