Windows Mobile

Microsoft’s Ballmer to Google: Bring it On!

Bernie — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 14:08:36 -0500

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer had some interesting things to say about Google’s recent announcements concerning mobile handset operating systems. "Right now they have a press release, we have many, many millions of customers, great software, many hardware devices and they're welcome in our world,” said Ballmer. That’s corporate CEO speak for “bring it on.” Ballmer feels some confidence because Window’s Mobile has a significant lead. According to a Techworld post, Windows Mobile is on 150 handsets and is available from over 100 different operators. Ballmer added that Microsoft will likely license 20 million handsets this year.

With numbers like that, Google’s pending Android certainly doesn’t have Ballmer and Microsoft shaking in their boots. But you have to wonder what Microsoft is really saying behind closed doors. Google is crushing them on search and associated web advertising. If they have a fraction of comparable success with Android, the competitive impact will be significant on a variety of companies, Microsoft included.

Are Blackberry’s Days Numbered?

Bernie — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 20:12:39 -0400

Despite its success, some are wondering whether the venerable Blackberry device is losing its luster. Competitors including Windows Mobile and Symbian devices, as well as Palm’s Treo line have long had a ‘bulls eye’ on RIM’s flagship product. Add to that the competitive implications of the iPhone, which seems to be seducing the masses already, despite not having sold one copy yet. RIM does have some disadvantages compared with their competitors, including the necessity for enterprise users to implement an additional mail server, with all of the support issues that generates. RIM of course thinks differently, and can point to their 8 million subscribers as evidence to counter premature predictions of their demise.

Check out this Silicon.com post for more analysis.

Verizon Embraces FMC with New Business Offerings

Bernie — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:03:27 -0400

Verizon announced the launch of several fixed mobile convergence (FMC) products at the NXTComm show. The new products will be called Wireless Office, PBX Mobile Extension and Mobile Conference Connection. Product features will include include: a single phone number that simultaneously rings to an office, home and cell phone; a unified mailbox that consolidates voicemail from multiple devices; and instant conference calls that can be organized and initiated with just a few clicks on any Research in Motion BlackBerry or Microsoft Windows Mobile smart phone or PDA. Pricing on the new services was unavailable.