MS to release WinMo 7 to phone makers in September
Mole also reiterates Zune, Xbox Live link claims
Windows Mobile 7 will be handed over to smartphone makers in September, to allow them to ready devices based on the operating system for Q4 2010 or Q1 2011.
So claim sources said to be familiar with Microsoft's roadmap cited by DIgiTimes.
The mole repeated earlier claims that next month's Mobile World Congress industry shindig will not play host to WinMo 7's launch. Rather, Microsoft will announce the OS' release timetable and launch WinMo 6.6 instead.
The source also said Microsoft had selected Samsung, HTC, LG, Toshiba, Asus and Acer to develop WinMo 7 handsets, but since these companies already offer Windows Mobile devices, that's perhaps no great surprise. LG has said as much itself.
Rumours of late have suggested WinMo 7 will be forked into two editions focused, respectively, on business and consumer use. If true, the scheme is presumably intended to convince the former - WinMo's traditional heartland, that the new, Zune-based OS is suitable for them.
The DigiTimes source said WinMo 7 will support Zune - MS' media player family and media delivery service - but that's not quite the same thing as saying it is based entirely on Zune technology, which has been claimed will be the basis of WinMo 7. Hence allegations that the new OS won't run apps developed for past versions.
The source also said WinMo 7 will connects to Xbox Live - again, past rumours have maintained that Microsoft will use WinMo 7 to deliver mobile gaming - and Silverlight for multimedia playback. ®
COMMENTS
Too late
Even if they get it off by September, it's still too late for mobile phone developers to put their own spin on it and get it under the tree for Christmas. If the rumours of a second reboot of the team in a year are true, does anybody believe they can launch a good product in time?
Shoot, does anybody think that they can deliver a decent phone OS even if everything goes perfectly? That would fly in the face of tradition. If they pull it off, will anybody care?
I guess it's a Android tablet or iSlate under my tree.
What difference does it make?
Trying not to just bash WinMo7, I'd still like to know what anyone thinks would be good about if for a larger market than the few who owns a Zune?
Supposedly WinMo is for smartphones/pda-mobiles, and perhaps by some even thought of as competition for iPhone, but no news so far has given me any hints about what that should be?
I don't own an iPhone, and probably never will because of my unwillingness to support the behavior of Apple, but so far has preferred the Linux based mobiles from Motorola (none are perfect, but closer to my likings).
Good of Them
Good of them to support the couple of dozen Zune users with the ability to link to their WinMo phones.
Well then.
I guess it's good that there are several folks porting Android onto WinMob devices at the moment.
Choice is great :)
