Microsoft

Curtain goes down on Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine

Paul Mah — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:10:02 -0400

It was with some nostalgia that I read of the decision by the publisher of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine to suspend publication after 11 years in operation. The reason appears to be a lack of advertisers, as Microsoft steered its Windows Mobile operating system from being a PDA-only platform. The paradigm is different in mobile land, it seems, and advertising revenues from phone companies and OEMs are just not forthcoming despite coverage of their products.

Beyond the confirmation of just how mobile technology has changed the rules of the game, I think this is a somber reminder that information technology, and mobile technologies in particular, is in a constant state of flux. Indeed, just like how the affordability of the once exorbitantly expensive personal computer created a society where utilizing IT is no longer a competitive advantage, but something that is completely necessary; so too is the pervasiveness of always-on, high-speed mobile data access shifting the landscape.

Already, software makers like Intuit are offering online and smartphone-accessible features. Traditional newspapers like the Washington Post have not just embraced the web, but recently released a free BlackBerry application to access its content.

Of course, FierceMobileIT does owe its existence to the advent of mobile devices. Hopefully, we have added value with our enterprise-centric view of mobile devices and technologies, specifically on how to leverage wireless to benefit your organization.

In the meantime, we will continue to serve you by keeping an eye out for the latest mobile-centric developments. As the old saying goes, change is the only constant. - Paul

Smartphone & Pocket PC suspends publication

Paul Mah — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:07:06 -0400

I originally planned for another story here until I came across the sad news that the publisher of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine will be suspending publication after 11 years. The news was just announced in a blog posting by Executive Editor Hal Goldstein on Tuesday. While the door will be left open, there are no current plans to publish future Windows Mobile issues. The reason: a dwindling number of advertisers as Windows Mobile transited from PDAs to smartphones. The irony, of course, is that there are almost 20 million Windows Mobile devices sold in this fiscal year alone for Microsoft. Goldstein ended by suggesting that opportunities might exist for a more sophisticated publishing company, or a better funded entrepreneur. The Smartphone & Pocket PC website will remain in operation.

For more on the decision to end Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine:
- check out the blog entry

Analyst: 3G iPhone not ready for the enterprise

Paul Mah — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:23:17 -0400

Analyst Jack Gold of J. Gold Associates has criticized Apple's move to position its iPhones to be more enterprise-centric with the announcement of the 3G version of the iPhone. He noted that "I don't hear a lot of anything new, to be honest." The issue has to do with the lack of on-board encryption on the iPhone compared with competing smartphones like RIM's BlackBerry and Microsoft's Pocket PC. Another glaring gap has to do with device management, of which Apple appears to have no credible solution at the moment. In the past, analyst Jack Gold also was harsh on earlier versions of Windows Mobile for not offering on-board encryption.

For more on the 3G iPhone:
- check out the The Register article

Apple unveils 3G iPhone

Paul Mah — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:38:42 -0400

As expected, Apple unveiled the long awaited 3G version of the iPhone. Dubbed iPhone 2.0, it will come with Microsoft's push mail technology, a longer battery life and integration with an application store. The iPhone 2.0 software for the iPhone 3G will be available as a free upgrade for the older model, though iPod touch owners will need to pay a fee of $9.95 for it.

Perhaps the move that surprised observers the most was the substantially lowered prices. The 8GB version of iPhone 3G will sell for just $199, with the 16GB flavor going for $299. The new iPhones are expected to arrive in the United States, as well as in 24 other countries, on July 11.

For more on the new iPhone:
- check out this the Washington Post blog

Microsoft to extend Windows XP for nettops as well

Paul Mah — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:48:10 -0400

Microsoft will extend the availability of its die-hard Windows XP operating system to manufacturers of ultra low-cost PCs, aka nettops. Not surprisingly, Microsoft's corporate vice president of the Original Equipment Manufacturer Division, Steven Guggenheimer noted that "Customers and partners have made it clear to us that they want Windows on their netbooks and nettops." With Intel projecting sales of more than 100 million netbooks and nettops annually by the year 2011, it is easy to see how Microsoft could ill-afford to miss the bandwagon. Still, this move to protect their market share is ironic in that it is likely to be at the expense of Windows Vista.

For more on Windows XP for nettops:
- check out this Guardian article

Microsoft predicts 'huge growth' ahead for Windows Mobile

Paul Mah — Wed, 28 May 2008 06:21:33 -0400

Microsoft is predicting that global sales of devices running on its Windows Mobile platform will grow more than 50 percent by the end of the fiscal year in 2009. The company expects to sell 20 million Windows Mobile units by the 2008 fiscal year, which ends next month. Not everyone is optimistic however. Citigroup analyst Kevin Chang noted that Microsoft's Windows Mobile faces an uphill battle, and that even a 50 percent annual growth might not be sufficient to break the stranglehold of Nokia's Symbian. To further complicate matters, both Apple and RIM are expected to release new versions 3G-enabled versions of their smartphones within the next few months.

For more on Microsoft's Windows Mobile:
- check out the CNET News.com article

Cerience announces RepliGo Server 3.0

Paul Mah — Wed, 21 May 2008 04:22:16 -0400

At WES last week, Cerience Corporation announced RepliGo Server 3.0, its "full fidelity" document viewing solution for RIM BlackBerry smartphones. This new version vastly improves its enterprise integration, allowing for search and access from an expanded range of sources such as Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Exchange and WebDAV servers. Enhanced group management is also possible now, with complete control over document access and security.

On the same day, RepliGo Reader also was announced. RepliGo Reader is Cerience's first native PDF viewing application for the BlackBerry. It is currently in beta, though you can sign up for an invitation-only trial. Dave Cho from Cerience noted that while they currently are only developing for the BlackBerry platform, this might change in future.

For more on RepliGo Server 3.0:
- check out the press release from Cerience

Microsoft wants 40 percent of the smartphone market within 4 years

Dan Bowman — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:11:56 -0400

A Microsoft executive has thrown down the gauntlet and declared that the company is looking to corner 40 percent of the smartphone market by 2012. This target is ambitious, if you consider that of the roughly 118 million smartphones sold last year, Microsoft made up only 13 percent. Article

Windows Mobile 7: coming late 2009?

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:59:58 -0400

We've been hearing about Windows Mobile 7 for quite some time now, heck, we've even seen a few leaked screenshots. Despite these facts, the next step for Windows Mobile (not counting 6.1, of course) has always seemed a bit far off and that point was underlined this past week when a few journalists were lucky enough to get their hands on the new OS at a Microsoft MVP event. In a blog post that has since been redacted (apparently some folks mistook informed speculation for fact), PocketNow detailed its experience with WinMo7, which is said to "basically [address] everything wrong with WM6 today." The problem, however, is that based on target release dates, we might not see the new OS until "mid to late 2009." That gives Apple, RIM, Palm and Symbian yet another year to make inroads into the enterprise market while Microsoft sits on the sidelines. This really can't be helped, however: unlike the closed ecosystem that is the iPhone, Windows Mobile relies on a vast network of OEM, carrier and developer partners, who will need months to test, embed and develop for the new OS before it can go out the door. That is, unless, Microsoft leveraged a recent purchase in order to produce its own native mobile hardware... but that, of course, is just wild speculation.

For more on Windows Mobile 7:
- see this Gizmodo article

SPOTLIGHT: Microsoft's force sensitivity tech

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:59:52 -0400

Touchscreens are pretty cool, right? Right. Just wait until you see twistscreens; Microsoft currently is testing new "force sensitivity" tech that will allow you to push, pull, bend and twist devices in order to manipulate the onscreen UI. Article