Microsoft tries to allay enterprise fears about Windows
Phone 7
LAS VEGAS - Some users of Microsoft's Windows Phone
Series 7 will face a major hurdle when the mobile OS appears in devices during
the 2010 holiday season -- it isn't backwards compatible with Windows Mobile
6.5 and earlier versions.
Microsoft may not view the lack of compatibility as a
hurdle because it is looking for the new software to take it in a drastically
new direction. However, enterprise adopters of earlier Windows Mobile might see
things differently.
To its credit, Microsoft will allay some enterprise
fears with its promise to support Windows Mobile 6.5 for a long time. Michael
Chang, the senior product manager on Windows Phone 7, yesterday reiterated
earlier vows made by CEO Steve Ballmer and others to keep on supporting Windows
Mobile 6.5.
We will continue to support, ship and sell 6.5, Chang
said in an interview at the CTIA Wireless conference. Windows Phone 7 is a
departure and a break at a code level. Doing so wasn't an easy decision. It's a
tough decision to move away from a platform like Windows Mobile, but one we
were willing to make.
Ballmer has said Microsoft screwed up on Windows
Mobile, and the company apparently hopes that the new Windows Phone 7 can help
restore Microsoft's slipping share of the mobile operating systems market.
Asked whether Ballmer is pushing the Windows Phone 7
team to attain specific market share numbers, Chang said, not publicly.
Jeff Bradley, senior vice president of devices at
AT&T, said that his company is looking forward to having Windows Phone 7
devices use its network. Other major U.S. carriers have endorsed the Microsoft
OS as well.
Windows Mobile has become the enterprise standard OS
for certain vertical segments," Bradley said in an interview. However, he
added, "it has fallen back. But give Microsoft credit. They've taken 6.5
and made a break for something new. They've raised the bar substantially with
Windows Phone 7.
Bradley noted that Microsoft's move to develop a Windows
Phone 7 interface that's similar to its Zune digital media player likely won't
be an allure to many users. Zune has not been widely adopted, he noted.
Even so, Bradley said he expects that Windows Phone 7
will have a browser that is very, very comparable to any smartphone on the
market.
Chang said that while Microsoft expects to offer a rich
multimedia experience on Windows Phone 7 devices, the OS initially won't
include Adobe Flash player. We won't support Flash at general availability,
although we do have a very deep relationship with Adobe, he said.
Chang said that adding consumer friendly features like
multimedia support and rich browsing to its mobile operating system doesn't
mean that Microsoft will abandon its place as a supplier of enterprise
handhelds, including some rugged ones.
We think of this OS as an extension & of our scope,
Chang said. I wouldn't say we are building a consumer phone at the expense of
our heritage work productivity. We are taking that and adding
to it features that include entertainment and a focus on a new experience.
Windows Mobile was all about productivity, but we had relied on someone else to
deliver a great experience. Not anymore.
On Computerworld, By Matt Hamblen.
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