Firstly, sorry for not posting any blog articles for the past few weeks; just come back to uni and had lots to sort out and organise, namely broadband.
When more news came out about Microsoft’s Project Pink a couple of weeks ago I began to think a bit more about Microsoft and all the phones it sounds like it will be supporting by the end of 2010. It sounds like Microsoft plans to have both Windows Mobile 6.5 and 7 in the market at the same time, something that seemed odd to me to begin with but after a bit a thinking I saw why Redmond might be doing this. Also with news of Project Pink it sounds like there could be a third type of phone in the market from Microsoft only adding to the confusion.
From thinking about the potential three offerings from Microsoft I came to conclusion that Windows Mobile 7 could be aimed directly at the high-end consumer section of the phone market, directly competing with the iPhone, Palm Pre, etc. Then 6.5 (plus other additions to the 6.X edition) will be aimed at the business sector of the market and would be competing with some of RIM’s Blackberry devices. If what was leaked about Project Pink is true then it seems like those phones will be aimed at the very bottom of the phone market, to young, new users of mobile phones.
I compiled a list of how I see the break down of the devices/operating systems, I don’t see how Microsoft could justify three offerings any other way with out being a direct competitor to themselves.
Windows Mobile 7
High End phone Consumers
Direct competitor with iPhone, Palm Pre
- Expensive
- Limited choice of hardware (powerful hardware)
- Excellent media playback
- Excellent internet access (Cloud access and large number of internet apps and widgets)
- Advanced and wide choice of games
- Vast choice of consumer and business apps
- Mostly finger friendly (multiple) interface(s) (perhaps there will be custom interfaces for the variety of devices)
Windows Mobile 6.5+
Business Users
Direct competitor to Blackberry devices
- Average price
- Vast choice of types of device (average hardware)
- Limited media playback
- Excellent internet access (Cloud access and large number of internet apps and widgets)
- Basic games
- Vast choice of business apps
- Mostly stylus interface
Project Pink
Young consumers
- Cheap
- Handful of devices (low end to average hardware)
- Limited media play back
- Limited internet access (limited cloud access and low number of selective internet apps and widgets)
- Basic games
- Limited choice of low powered consumer apps
- Finger friendly interface
