Revenge Of Windows Mobile - Is 2006 the year?

Tim · #1 02-17-2006, 09:43 PM

Will 2006 be the year when Microsoft Mobile finally takes off? It certainly looks like that. Microsoft’s mobile ambitions are on display at the 3GSM show in Barcelona. CEO Steve Ballmer gave a big wet kiss to wireless operators in his Valentine’s Day keynote address at the wireless mega show.
Store shelves are crammed with brand new Windows Mobile 5.0 devices. And a lot of it has do with HTC and its amazing designs. Cingular 8125, T-Mobile’s latest revs of SDA and MDA and Treo 700. HP just announced a refreshed line-up. The Motorola Q is one of the most eagerly awaited PDA/phones. More are coming. Like the new Samsung i320 which features a full keyboard device, very small and compact. There are 47 device makers churning out Windows Mobile devices."
[via Om Malik's Blog]
This is the news we all love to hear. I really feel like the time is near for Windows Mobile devices to truly shine. Everyone was afraid of "converged" devices except those on the bleeding edge, but 2006 may be the year that Windows Mobile will cross the consumer divide. No longer will it be strange to put a PDA up to your ear. No longer will you be limited to a "WiFi" only device. So long for the awkward years because it looks like Windows Mobile will break puberty this year.

knelson · #2 02-18-2006, 01:42 PM

I woiuld love to see Microsoft truly support WM 5.0, but in reality they have not - Look at Voice Command - never updated for WM, Money PPC client, CRM Client, Business Contact Manager Client - Microsoft can not even get Reader to work with most WM devices.

Birdiestyle · #3 02-21-2006, 01:21 PM

I wouldn't guage Microssoft's WM5 support by the life cycles of their other WM products..
Yes, you would think if they plan on supporting those products on WM5 they should obviously have an advantage as far as availability to the new OS and resources. But its very hard to tell how resources are allocated to develop for these products, and in all actuallity some might not be scheduled for any update, or are being rolled into other software, or.... as Im guessing most of the development teams are either busy getting WM5 right, or are completely detached from the main WM team, and are on their own schedule as far if/when to update.
Really, WM5 hasnt been out there all that long....

knelson · #4 02-21-2006, 01:29 PM

The development kits have been out for a year to the general public, let alone internally with Microsoft.
Beside the release of WM 5.0 I can not come up with a SINGLE product that Microsoft has released for WM 5.0 not one.

Birdiestyle · #5 02-22-2006, 09:52 AM

The dev kits mean little as well. I wouldnt develop strictly against them.
I still dont have all the changes made to Ulti-Planner to be WM5 ready.. And Im sure that Microsoft has a lot more red tape than I do.
And most of my comments had nothing to do with the availability.. Its more about resource allocation probably based on what is generating revenue.... Until 5.0 gets very established, which I give you is happening amazingly fast since its only been out 6 months, then those secondary pieces of software will probably crawl up the priority queue if they are still planned to be supported.
The OS and shipped software are the biggest concerns yet, as this WM thing really takes off.....

knelson · #6 02-22-2006, 10:03 AM

I felt like there would be more of a "commitment" after the hype about Windows Mobile I witnessed at several industry events. The OS is ok - has some issues that need resolution, but I anticipated at minimum one WM application from Microsoft.
I am waiting for your Uni-Planner - I want a simple PIM that has speed.