SuperSite Blog : Windows Mobile

Windows Marketplace for Mobile Now Available on the Web

pthurrott — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:28:15 GMT

When Microsoft launched its new Windows Marketplace for Mobile alongside Windows Mobile 6.5 in early October, the online store was only available via a custom app on compatible Windows Mobile 6.5-based devices. But now, as promised, you can access the store on the web as well, from any PC-based web browser. It looks pretty good. (Queue tired comparison of Apple's 100,000 apps with Microsoft's ~350. Please. I beg you.)

Windows Mobile 6.5.1 on the Way?

pthurrott — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:21:36 GMT

I guess this is no huge surprise, but Download Squad reports that Microsoft is already working on a minor revision to the recently released Windows Mobile 6.5:

When Microsoft launched Windows Mobile 6.5 earlier this month, the latest version of the company's operating system for ~~cell~~ smart phones and mobile devices was met with lukewarm (if not hostile) reviews. In a nutshell, the biggest complaint is that the operating system was essentially unchanged from the previous few versions and didn't offer much to convince users to stick with the platform instead of switching to an iPhone, Blackberry, Google Android, or Palm device.

But there may be hope. Windows Mobile 6.5 does have a new and improved web browser and home screen, even if the calendar and contacts applications haven't changed in half a decade. And now it looks like Microsoft is working on an incremental update that may or may not be called Windows Mobile 6.5.1 that will bring a number of minor but significant improvements.

No real news here (they do quote Long Zheng, after all), but it looks like some of the new features include a touch-friendly Contacts application, the move of the Start button back to the bottom left of the screen (where it was originally, a la desktop Windows, back in the mid- to late-1990s), and an overall visual refresh.

Microsoft's smart phone strategy: Copy, copy, and then copy again

pthurrott — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:36:23 GMT

Sigh.

Today, Gizmodo revealed Microsoft's secret new strategy in the smart phone market: Copy what other people are doing. If you've spent any time on my site or listen to Windows Weekly, you know how I feel about this kind of thing. If you can't do something original, why bother?

Here's what they're doing.

"Turtle"
What it copies: The Palm Pre

"Pure"
What it copies: Every horizontal smart phone ever sold.

So. These things look OK, obviously. But really? This is the deeply secret phone stuff Microsoft is working on?

Yawn.

Google Sync: Now with push Gmail support

pthurrott — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:57:27 GMT

This is big stuff, and if there's anyone actually paying for MobileMe a year from now, well, you already looked like a fool, so what's the difference?

The Google Mobile Blog reports today that Google has added push email support to Google Sync, which previously provided that support for Google-based contacts and calendar on the iPhone (and iPod touch), Blackberry, Windows Mobile, and Nokia S60 devices. Here's the word:

Earlier this year, we launched Google Sync which allows you to synchronize your Gmail Contacts and Google Calendar with your iPhone, Windows Mobile, and S60 devices. Today, we're adding Gmail support to Google Sync for iPhone, iPod Touch and Windows Mobile devices.

Using Google Sync, you can now get your Gmail messages pushed directly to your phone. Having an over-the-air, always-on connection means that your inbox is up to date, no matter where you are or what you're doing. Sync works with your phone's native email application so there's no additional software needed. Only interested in syncing your Gmail, but not your Calendar? Google Sync allows you to sync just your Contacts, Calendar, or Gmail, or any combination of the three.

To try Google Sync, visit m.google.com/sync from your computer. If you're already using Google Sync, learn how to enable Gmail sync.

Good stuff. Enjoy!

Misunderstandings abound about the 'Windows Phones' branding. Head's up: Nothing has changed. Nothing.

pthurrott — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 09:41:55 GMT

I guess it's not just the desktop version of Windows that people are confused about these days. But at least this time it's not Microsoft's fault.

Over the past few days, a number of news reports have sprung up claiming that Microsoft was getting rid of the Windows Mobile brand and was changing it to Windows Phones. The Windows Mobile 6.5 name would be the first to go.

That's not what's happening.

Windows Phones is simply an umbrella marketing term for Microsoft's overall smart phone efforts (e.g. the entire smart phone platform). Not coincidentally, I used this name in my own article, way back in February, describing Microsoft's efforts this year to advance its smart phone platform: Windows Mobile 6.5, My Phone, and Windows Marketplace.

Microsoft confirmed this is still the case with the following statement:

"Microsoft started using the term Windows Phone within the industry at Mobile World Congress on February 16, 2009. It is a simple way for consumers to identify the new generation of Windows phones that will be available this fall through our mobile partners; and will include new services on them such as My Phone and Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

Huh. Those are all the things I mentioned in that aforementioned article. It's like nothing has changed. Oh! That's because nothing has changed.

The operating system is still Windows Mobile, folks. Microsoft confirmed this as well.

"We will still use the term 'Windows Mobile' to identify the operating system releases (e.g. - 6.1, 6.5)."

OK, enough with the silliness. That's what you get for trusting a site like The Inquirer. Or, sadly, PC World. Come on guys. At least try.

Yes, there's an Office 2010 Mobile too

pthurrott — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:23:40 GMT

But it's not in beta (yet). Here's a bit of info from my Office 2010 Special Report.

There's not much to say yet about Office Mobile 2010, but it will appear in early 2010 on Windows Mobile-based smart phones and will further Microsoft's promise to make Office functionality available beyond the PC desktop. Office Mobile 2010 will include new versions of Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile, OneNote Mobile, as well as a SharePoint client that will allow you to access SharePoint-based Office documents.

Upload your apps now. Windows Marketplace for Mobile

pthurrott — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:05:59 GMT

Microsoft's Windows Mobile (or, we should say, "WinMob") team goes viral and decidedly non-PC in this video-based attempt to woo developers to their platform. It's funny, and a bit long, but they get at least some credit for simply ignoring the line that usually separates product marketing from good taste. It's worth watching if you have a sense of humor.

"Accelerometer-driven [bleep]... "

"... with a compass!"

:) Nice.

Thanks to Rami A. for the link.

Microsoft My Phone Beta open to the public

pthurrott — Tue, 19 May 2009 11:35:53 GMT

It looks like My Phone is available now to the public.

Microsoft My Phone syncs information between your mobile phone and the web, enabling you to:

Back up and restore your phone's information to a password-protected web site

Access and update your contacts and appointments through your web account

Share photos on your phone with family and friends

Find out more

Try it out (You'll need a Windows Mobile device)

So I wrote a bit about this service last week for the book (Windows 7 Secrets) and will try and get something up on the site soon. My Phone is free, of course, but it pretty much requires that you have gotten data into the phone; there’s no way to use the web site to import contacts, calendar, or whatever from the desktop directly. That said, once it’s there, it’s pretty easy to managed. Overall, it’s not bad.

More soon.

Thanks to Zlatko Z. for the tip.

Microsoft Unveils Its Developer Strategy for the Next Generation of Windows Phones

pthurrott — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:38:35 GMT

Microsoft talks up its plans for Windows Marketplace for Mobile in this press release. I'll write up a news story later but figured this would be immediate interest:

Microsoft Corp. today announced new details about how developers can build and sell applications for Windows phones through Windows Marketplace for Mobile, the recently announced application marketplace available with the Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system. In its commitment to helping developers create new and exciting applications, Microsoft will provide developers with 70 percent of the sales revenue of their applications from Windows Marketplace for Mobile, transparency throughout the certification process, and guidance and support from the stage of development to the final sale to the consumer. Developers can get the tools to begin developing for Windows phones at http://developer.windowsmobile.com.

Developers who sell applications through Windows Marketplace for Mobile will receive 70 percent of the revenue from the sales of each application. In addition, they will be able to set the price for their applications in each market, maximizing their revenues based on targeted pricing strategies. Developers can also choose to distribute their applications at no cost. Up to five application submissions to Windows Marketplace for Mobile is included in the introductory annual registration fee of $99 (U.S.). Each additional submission within the annual period will cost $99 (U.S.). The registration fee is waived for student developers who want to reach Windows phones customers, through enrollment in the Microsoft DreamSpark program.

Mary Jo Foley offers up an interesting comparison of this strategy to Apple's:

Like Apple, does for iPhone developers, Microsoft plans to provide developers writing for its mobile platform 70 percent of of the revenues generated for each app that is sold.

Beyond that percentage, however, Microsoft’s new mobile development policies and procedures are designed to be the antithesis of Apple’s.

Microsoft My Phone update

pthurrott — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:01:00 GMT

Microsoft updated its My Phone blog the other day with good info:

The buzz and excitement around the service has really invigorated the team both in Braga, Portugal and Seattle to continue to work very hard to ensure a stable and solid service. The feedback we have received from you all on forums and blog comments has been really useful. We are taking this feedback into account for our future plans so please continue to share your thoughts. While it is not possible to comment and respond to all the feature requests, we would like to acknowledge the most frequently discussed topics on the forums:

Tighter integration with Windows Live services: Window Live suite of services provides a fantastic user experience around Contacts, Calendar, Photos and other user needs. We too are big fans and ardent users of these services and it is natural for you all to ask for tighter integration so that all of your personal data is consolidated in one single view. The initial goal for My Phone service was to test the concept and validate that we are solving a real problem for the users. Now that we have a resounding vote of confidence for the service our future plans are moving in this direction.

Support synchronizing additional data: Your phone is a very personal device for lot of us. For some of us it is akin to having all of life in your hands and it is not fun thinking about losing all of this information. We have tried to support syncing the most frequently used data types keeping in mind the current and future trends but at the same time we have room for growth in this area for syncing additional information. There has also been active discussion around providing flexibility to select folders and files from the phone for syncing it with the service and also providing the option to sync Contacts, Calendar and Tasks even though they are managed by Exchange/ActiveSync.

Suggestions on improving the experience on the My Phone Web Site: There have also been number of suggestions on further improving the overall usability of the web site along with the phone application. These are being evaluated on case by case basis and we will be taking those into account for future updates.

Thanks again for your feedback and keep it coming.

Microsoft's Windows Mobile moves: Too little, too late

pthurrott — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:31:20 GMT

So. I'm on vacation this week with spotty connectivity, so it's hard to keep up with the outside world, let along blog about it. (I'll be home Friday.) That said, I feel like I should comment on this week's Windows Mobile news. Here's the word from Microsoft:

Today at Mobile World Congress, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer made significant announcements regarding the company’s mobile software plus services strategy. Some major milestones announced include the next generation of Windows phones, running Windows Mobile 6.5 that combine the power of the platform with rich integrated services, namely My Phone and Windows Marketplace for Mobile. Additionally, LG and Microsoft also announced an expanded alliance making Windows the primary mobile platform for LG to dramatically increase the number of LG phones running Windows.

Understanding that people need phones to span all areas of their life, the new Windows phones will have the same security, manageability, and enterprise features that you come to expect, but are also coupled with exciting items such as a new UI and widgets.

My Phone is a next generation mobile Web service focused on the movement of content between your phone, the Web and your PC. Our other new service, Windows Marketplace for Mobile, makes it easier than ever to purchase and download enterprise and LOB applications so employees can do more while on the go.

I've also written up a news story for WinInfo.

Long story short, this is too little too late.

Here's why:

The iPhone will be in its third generation by the time Microsoft's partners get around to shipping Windows Mobile 6.5-based phones.
Windows Mobile 6.5, itself, is an interim solution created on the fly as a response to the iPhone.
My Phone looks interesting and useful.
Microsoft can talk up 20,000 apps all it wants. Virtually none of them are any good. Plus the disparity of Windows Mobile hardware types means that these things won't work consistently across devices. That's the dark side of choice, I guess.

I just can't get excited about this though I will of course check it all out as soon as I can. I'm ready and willing to have my mind changed here, but I have this nagging feeling that it ain't happening. Why can't they move quicker than this?

My Phone open for sign-ups (US only?)

pthurrott — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:33:39 GMT

Microsoft My Phone page now has a sign-in button which lets you get on the waiting list. It may be US only, not sure. But it is first come, first serve. (Sorry for the late notice; we’re on vacation this week.)

Microsoft My Phone pre-registration

As we launch Microsoft My Phone, registration is limited and being made available to new users on a first-come first-serve basis. Please indicate if you would like to be notified (by e-mail) when you can sign-up for the service. We appreciate your interest and patience.

Add to wait list

Or

Sign up using promotional code

Use your Promotional Code to sign up and continue with your registration.

Thanks to Sebastian V. for the link.

UPDATE: I should provide a link back to JCXP, which originated this story.

Microsoft splits Zune team in two

pthurrott — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:47:21 GMT

An interesting and timely report from Ina Fried over at CNET. I've emphasized a few important bits...

Microsoft has quietly reorganized its Zune team, splitting up the hardware and software teams, CNET News has learned.

The software and services portion of the Zune team--the bulk of its staff--will be added to the portfolio of Enrique Rodriguez, the vice president who currently runs Microsoft's Mediaroom and Media Center TV businesses. The hardware team, meanwhile, will now report to Tom Gibbons, who also leads the hardware design efforts within Microsoft's Windows Mobile unit.

The move was made on January 22, as Microsoft made its first-ever companywide layoffs--layoffs which also hit the Zune team, although Microsoft won't say how many people were cut. It also follows a holiday quarter in which Zune sales dropped by more than half from a year earlier.

In an hour-long interview on Thursday, Rodriguez said the move was not made in response to recent Zune sales, but rather as the company looks to create a more unified entertainment business and gears up to expand the Zune service to be available on more than just Microsoft's own devices.

"The goal is to make non-gaming entertainment a first-class citizen within Microsoft's business," he said. That means building better software and gaining scale "a little further out than just in Redmond."

Rodriguez ... did say to expect products within this calendar year that take the Zune service beyond just Microsoft's own line of digital music players.

"Zune the service needs to transcend Zune the device," Rodriguez said. But that doesn't mean Rodriguez doesn't see a need for Microsoft to keep making the Zune.

Rodriguez said that a large part of the reorganization was about bringing more heads together to work on a unified entertainment approach, one that is headed toward a more cloud-based approach.

Google Sync

pthurrott — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:50:43 GMT

Oh my.

Microsoft emailed me today to explain that they have licensed intellectual property to Google:

Earlier today Google announced Google Sync, which is made possible by a patent license they obtained from Microsoft covering Google’s implementation of the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync protocol on Google servers. Of note, Microsoft recently announced an expansion of its Exchange Active Sync Licensing Program, and licensees currently include partners and competitors Apple, Nokia, Palm, Samsung and Sony Ericsson.

In addition, Microsoft has released the following statement, from Horacio Gutierrez, Deputy General Counsel and VP, Intellectual Property & Licensing at Microsoft:

"Google's licensing of these Microsoft patents relating to the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync protocol is a clear acknowledgement of the innovation taking place at Microsoft. This agreement is also a great example of Microsoft's openness to generally license our patents under fair and reasonable terms so long as licensees respect Microsoft intellectual property. This open approach has been part of Microsoft's IP licensing policy since 2003 and has resulted in over 500 licensing agreements of the last five years."

Hm. So. What is Google Sync? According to Google...

Google SyncBeta for your mobile phone

Synchronize the contacts and calendar on your phone with your Google account.

Synchronize your Contacts with Google

Depending on your phone, get Google Calendar events to your phone

Make changes either on your phone or on the Web

Features

Synchronize your contacts. Get your Google contacts quickly and easily to your phone. With Sync, you can have access to your address book at anytime and place that you need it.

Get calendar alerts. Using your phone's native calendar, you can now access your Google calendar, and be alerted for upcoming appointments with sound or vibration.

Always in sync. Your contacts stay synchronized whether you access them from your phone or from your computer. Add or edit contact information right on your device or on your Google account on the web.

Nice!

Microsoft My Phone service appears briefly, disappears

pthurrott — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:27:33 GMT

Looks like the rumors about Microsoft's Skybox service--called My Phone in actuality--are true. Matthew Miller has a nice write-up about what happened today (I got to the site too late, and it had been already turned off):

It doesn’t appear that you can sign up or use it yet, but you can click the more info link [it's not working now --Paul] to find out several more details about the beta service that looks like it will launch around Mobile World Congress in less than 2 weeks.

The Microsoft My Phone site states the following:

Microsoft My Phone syncs information between your mobile phone and the web, enabling you to:

Back up and restore your phone’s information to a password-protected web site

Access and update your contacts and appointments through your web account

Share photos on your phone with family and friends

The site to download the client to your Windows Mobile 6 phone is www.getskybox.com/install, but as you will find it is not yet live. The beta will be free and you will get 200 MB of free storage. If you have an Exchange server setup with your WM device, then My Phone will not synchronize your contacts, calendar, or tasks. It will be able to sync up your photos and share them with family and friends.