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Microsoft made a bold move in the operating systems for mobile devices

Mobile World Congress in February 15, Steve Ballmer announced a new strategy for Microsoft ® operating systems on mobile devices: Windows ® phone series 7 (WP7). With this announcement Microsoft has distinguished clearly between the solution SG offers between / the consumer / commercial and industrial and commercial markets has raised the bar for the competition.

Microsoft had to do

According to comScore ® The market share of Microsoft smartphones has fallen more than 20% from September 2009 to February 2010. Not a good position for Microsoft in a growing market segment.

This new operating system is directed only (exactly) the consumer market, not industrial or mixed breed platforms will be required to implement. Microsoft has done its homework and made signs of what work: Applications, Market, Multimedia (Zune ™) user input and Multi-Touch. They also learned that does not work: Operating System "ish" user interfaces, incompatible hardware and software, the battery life and instruments of short evolution of high prices.

What coming to Windows Mobile ®?

Windows Mobile 6.5 has been renamed classic phone Windows, and is still based on EC 5. And that's probably where it ends. Microsoft said that mobile applications are not WP7. This means that developers now have to take certain decisions: we are left with a dead operating system? And this market, I am really? If you are in a consumer market: WP7 ® iPhone (or Android "¢ or BlackBerry ®) are probably the way forward. If you want a rugged, specific devices, sunlight shown in electronic format, long lifecycles, gloved operation and custom keys, real cameras, and / or a specific user experience, "CE" is the obvious choice in the market. Phone Windows Classic (also known as mobile) Microsoft probably still sold by some suppliers of vertical markets in the foreseeable future, but terms of improvement, is likely to end.

RIP Mobile 2010

So far, Microsoft has said (and voice low …) which is a mobile consumer oriented and CE operating system is designed for vertical and industrial markets. In practice, Microsoft has allowed to the blurring of the line to offer the mobile operating system providers vertical market (although some licensing requirements for key). Marking perceived indifference, Microsoft has confused the market. I do not remember how many of our partner clients have told me that the EC will soon be obsolete and replaced by mobile "Or" we have chosen as mobile is newer and more intuitive than the EC. "These two are certainly not the direct intention of Microsoft, but the confusion the lack of differentiation is clearly evident

"Moving On"

Microsoft now has a clear strategy for the consumer products industry. If you have not seen the demonstrations of prototypes WP7, I recommend you do, you can start in the hotel WP7: www.windowsphone7series.com . The "Metro" graphical user interface with its roof tiles, the market and the Zune experience as a real winner for the market of smartphones. Microsoft really has fulfilled its task.

In assessing their choice of operating system for development and commercialization of its solution, must be considered are the Microsoft targets are for WP7 and CE products and ultimately how they are aligned with market needs.

Microsoft has limited strategic (Sounds target) platform WP7 material things like a memory model set, a capacitive touch screen (can not use gloves or a stylus) and only two resolutions options screen (320×480 and 480×800). They said no update available for all currently made by any person (both for the return of capital in the mobile teams). Deadhead Microsoft has opted for mobile applications stating that they are running in WP7. In reply, the leading provider of applications such as Adobe ® and Skype ™ (between others) have terminated their evolution to wait WP7 WM6.5 is released.

CE 6 clearly meets the industrial markets, especially with version 3 now offers Silverlight ®, Pan and Zoom Internet Explorer, Flash Lite, and improvements in development. These improvements give developers a paradigm of the excellent user experience that allows the user rich interfaces spacious and modern data set to work with the sizes and enable OEMs, as the two technologies, platforms offer reliable, robust and scalable for our customers.

I applaud Microsoft for this bold clear, in announcing Windows 7 series phone. This action will continue to stimulate innovation and development in consumer markets and business. CE 6 R3 Microsoft offers a better functioning system of classes of main development tools advanced and commercial markets in the industry.

About the Author

President and COO of Two Technologies Inc.

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