Microsoft moves away from Windows Mobile

Microsoft is going to implement a new strategy for smartphones: in the future, there will be fewer models running Windows Mobile.
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Since Microsoft entered this market years ago, it has always broadly licensed its mobile operating system and encouraged licensees to release a range of models. This has led the the current point, where there are about 140 Windows Mobile models in use around the world.

Windows MobileTodd Peters, the VP of marketing for the Windows Mobile division, told the New York Times this week that this is no longer going to be the plan.

"I'd rather have fewer devices and be more focused," Peter told the NYT. Reducing the number of models will lead to "better integration" between the hardware and software.

Quest for Greater Integration

Microsoft built its business on licensing a generic PC operating system to companies who took care of the hardware. So it's no surprise that this has been the company's strategy with mobile device, too.

With smartphones, the strategy hasn't been as successful, though. Windows Mobile is up against companies like RIM and Apple, who produce both the software and the hardware,and therefore their devices are tightly focused and integrated.

As Microsoft only makes the software, it can't offer the same hardware/software integration as some of its rivals, but it's at least going to try to increase the integration by reducing the range of options licensees have.

One result of this might be a reduction in the number of screen resolutions supported by Windows Mobile. Currently, there are at least five. (Apple, by contrast, only has to support one.) Numerous screen resolutions not only adds to Microsoft's work, but also makes third-party developers' jobs harder.

Stay Tuned

Microsoft's Peters told the NYT that his company is will reveal more about its Windows Mobile strategy at the Mobile World Congress tradeshow in February.

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BY Ed Hardy
Source：TechTarget

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