msmobiles.com interviews Ed Suwanjindar from Microsoft
Transcript of the interview. [version 4]
After last yearīs interview with Derek Brown from Microsoft, this is second time we directly interview sombody from Microsoft involved in Microsoft powered cell phones.
We would like to express big thanks to
Shira Silberman and other nice ladies from Waggener Edstrom (Windows Mobile PR agency in USA), who helped us to arrange this interview.
The interview follows.
* * * * * *
msmobiles.com : could you introduce yourself? whatīs your role in Microsoft?
Ed Suwanjindar : Iīm "Ed Suwanjindar", Lead Product Manager in Mobile and Embedded Devices Division. I handle a marketing for Pocket PC and Smartphone products, focusing primarly on sort of outband end-customer marketing
msmobiles.com : whatīs your relationship with regard to Derek Brown?
Ed Suwanjindar : Derek Brown was my boss. Derek has left to join Small Business Server group.
msmobiles.com : OK. Now in Smartphone 2003 you have integrated MMS client.
Ed Suwanjindar : Correct.
msmobiles.com : Is it Microsoftīs own product, yes?
Ed Suwanjindar : We developed this in cooperation with a company called Jataayu
msmobiles.com : why donīt you put MMS client in Pocket PC?
Ed Suwanjindar : so 2003, I think, I should check, I think the 2003 product actually has MMS client
msmobiles.com : no, Pocket PC phones donīt have, I was speaking with guys... but it is not included in an operating system, it is an add-on solution..
Ed Suwanjindar : yeah, so MMS is certainly something we are super excited about and you can us making more investments in this area.
msmobiles.com : I donīt know, you are marketing guy, you maybe know Michael Wehrs...
Ed Suwanjindar : yeah
msmobiles.com : ...what is he doing?
Ed Suwanjindar : Mike is a director of technology and standards for the group. So he is in charge of engaging with standard bodies, CTIA ...
msmobiles.com : and ?
Ed Suwanjindar : ... GSMA ...
msmobiles.com : and ?
Ed Suwanjindar : ... OMA.
msmobiles.com : OMA! Exactly! You know, in OMA there are other [than MMS] standards, for example SyncML ...
Ed Suwanjindar : hm [nods]
msmobiles.com : ... so can we expect more standards like SyncML put into Smartphone operating system?
Ed Suwanjindar : I donīt have anything to share about that.
msmobiles.com : nothing... OK. Lately you have released this Voyager phone with Bluetooth - it is your own Bluetooth - it is not WIDCOMM, it is Microsoftīs Bluetooth.
Ed Suwanjindar : it is a Bluetooth implementation developed by Microsoft.
msmobiles.com : before releasing it to the market, have you done any interoperability testing between Smartphone 2003 and Windows Mobile 2003?
Ed Suwanjindar : smartphone... so this [he points to his HTC Voyager smartphone] is Windows Mobile 2003!
msmobiles.com : yes, sorry, Pocket PC 2003.
Ed Suwanjindar : I donīt get your question.
msmobiles.com : OK, this is Smartphone 2003 meaning "Windows Mobile 2003 for Smartphone" and the same we have Pocket Pc 2003. Have you done any Bluetooth interoperability testing ...
Ed Suwanjindar : To make sure that the devices are working with each other.
msmobiles.com : ... so that devices work with each other.
Ed Suwanjindar : I believe so.
msmobiles.com : you believe so. OK.
Ed Suwanjindar : But I do not have details on the nature of this testing, but we certainly test our products to make sure that their match with each other.
msmobiles.com : There is this new Toshiba e800 with the biggest screen...
Ed Suwanjindar : yeah, beatiful screen
msmobiles.com : ... and it supports 640x480 resolution. The question is: do you have any plans to introduce some support of this resolution within Windows Mobile 2003 and not just waiting for next major release Windows Mobile 2005, 2004
Ed Suwanjindar : The VGA support is enabled on Toshiba devices - enabled by them today. We have indicated that we plan to support different screen resolutions...
msmobiles.com : at developer conference
Ed Suwanjindar : yeah, in the future, I donīt have details on that, will be announced there. I am not able to share details about that.
msmobiles.com : so many Pocket PC users are complaining... so not complaining but there are plenty of Pocket PC users at this moment...
Ed Suwanjindar : yes!
msmobiles.com : ... and they are using Microsoft Reader in their device and many of them woudl like to get rid of Pocket PC and buy Microsoft Smartphone, so lack of Microsoft Reader in Microsoft smartphone is withholding them from buying this, they have some secure eBooks in Microsoft Reader format... so what do you think about Microsoft Reader in Microsoft smartphone?
Ed Suwanjindar : That would definitely be interesting. We prioritize the applications on smartphone, that fit well within the screen resolution, smaller screen size, but...
msmobiles.com : So you are waiting for this new resolution? This next generation...
Ed Suwanjindar : Not necessarily.
msmobiles.com : Not necessarily? OK, there are other Readers that work properly within this resolution, so the resolution is not ....
Ed Suwanjindar : If you let me finish my answer.
msmobiles.com : OK.
Ed Suwanjindar : Itīs a combination of screen resolution as well as screen size. Pocket PCs have much larger screen sizes, thus making this Reader (???) more rich.
msmobiles.com : Thatīs why youīre thinking that itīs not necessary to have Microsoft Reader in Microsoft smartphone?
Ed Suwanjindar : We prioritize the applications that make the most sense for the screen of this size.
msmobiles.com : Regarding support for langauges, I donīt know if you know, the Smartphone supports only Chinese Simplified. Are you planning to support also Chinese Traditional?
Ed Suwanjindar : we certainly plan to expand the number of languages that we support across the platform but I donīt have details to share about it today.
msmobiles.com : And you have push from Microsoft. Maybe itīs not directly related to smartphone... maybe it is related to smartphone... because if you have e-mail push with Microsoft technologies the only push method is SMS now, which is not satisfactory, is not cost effective, not possible to use solution in Europe... and Sierra Wireless and others are trying to put some another software to solve it. Are you aware of this problem or you simply not (???) regarding this e-mail push ?
Ed Suwanjindar : I didnīt catch the last part of the question.
msmobiles.com : So. Are you aware that this is a problem? Do you have some plans to provide e-mail push other than SMS?
Ed Suwanjindar : We certainly will evaluate other solutions.
msmobiles.com : I was just speaking to this Motorola guy - Tatelaman - and he said they will not put any e-mail push solution because they are believing that Microsoft will evolve their solution.
Ed Suwanjindar : hm [nods]
msmobiles.com : They are waiting for you!
Ed Suwanjindar : I donīt have any details to share about it today.
msmobiles.com : [sighs] OK. Bluetooth profiles in these phones. There are no profiles that are needed. Motorola mentioned that they are adding their own profiles - handsfree profile . What are your plans to adding profiles? What is your opinion? Is it enough?
Ed Suwanjindar : So these are profiles that are most requested by customers but we are certainly open to adding more in the future.
msmobiles.com : ... so there is no LAN access [in smartphone] ... so almost nothing.
Ed Suwanjindar : 8 is not nothing.
msmobiles.com : OK, what about Location Based Services and MSN messenger? I was speaking to this Lombardini....?
Ed Suwanjindar : Steve Lombardi!
msmobiles.com : oh, Lombardi.
Ed Suwanjindar : Lamborghini? [laughs] Iīll tell him that. I am free on e-mail if you wanna chat! So donīt feel like you have to get everything right now...
msmobiles.com : sure, but I need to put it as interview
Ed Suwanjindar : OK, I understand. I just am trying to make sure we are getting all your questions answered.
msmobiles.com : ... so I was speaking to these guys, MSN messenger group, and they look like they are neglected. That nobody cares about them.
Ed Suwanjindar : oh, theyīre not neglected.
msmobiles.com : the problem is...
Ed Suwanjindar : Have you seen the new Pocket MSN client?
msmobiles.com : itīs in Smartphone?
Ed Suwanjindar : [points to the screen of HTC Voyager smartphone] this is the Pocket MSN client that will be available later on in the year. Itīs got off-line HotMail access, you know what I mean?
msmobiles.com : yes
Ed Suwanjindar : so actual HotMail in (???) as well as premium MSN messenger and content
msmobiles.com : so you have to pay for it
Ed Suwanjindar : pricing has not been yet anounced.
msmobiles.com : as far as MSN messenger is concerned, 2 things which are of interest for me: and one thing is voice, in this MSN messenger desktop version there is voice, why not to add it here [points to some smartphone lying on the table]? whatīs the problem?
Ed Suwanjindar : well the...
msmobiles.com : there are operators...
Ed Suwanjindar : Can I answer the question?
msmobiles.com : OK, you can answer, I have not yet finished question...
Ed Suwanjindar : OK, so we prioritize the features that have the most utilities stright away and also meet the unique requirements of memory size, etc of these devices. So text messaging was prioritized initially. I wouldnīt deny adding new functionality down the road, but again I have nothing to share about that today.
msmobiles.com : You are relying on developers!
Ed Suwanjindar : y..es.
msmobiles.com : So many of them would like to develop some software, but they would like to be sure that you are not going to introduce this software as part of the operating system.
Ed Suwanjindar : yes.
msmobiles.com : like such things that exist in simple phones like GPRS counter... could you somehow have some roadmap that says clearly what Microsoft is not putting [into operating system]
Ed Suwanjindar : We absolutely do that. The Mobile Developers Conferences are the place to get that information.
Ed Suwanjindar : in Developers Conferences we outline the future platform investment that Microsoft is making so that companies can take advantage of them and plan accordingly. Thatīs the place to go. MDC is a place to go. There will be one in Europe, there will be one in Asia, as well as one in US in which Bill Gates will be.
msmobiles.com : so now many users ... he... networks are starting .... 3G networks are starting ... there will be announcements in CeBIT next month. Whatīs your message to people who would like to buy 3G phone, W-CDMA phone? Whatīs your message?
Ed Suwanjindar : Our message is... our software... We look forward to taking advantage of extra bandwidth that 3G networks offer, and we will work with the hardware partners, as well as our mobile operator partners to enable that, to make sure that our customers remain ahead of the technology curve.
msmobiles.com : you have requirements... when you have Pocket PC or Microsoft Smartphone you have requirements regarding screen size for example.
Ed Suwanjindar : Correct.
msmobiles.com : ... some keypad requirements. What about voice quality requirements? Voice quality metrics? Because, you know, some of these phones are made in Taiwan, or made in Asia - they have very poor voice quality. And this is damaging your image. So what do you think about this?
Ed Suwanjindar : I think that any guidelines that help improve user experience are certainly worth investigating.
msmobiles.com : you are putting "Windows Mobile" logo on this [points to one of smartphones] so itīs like when this phone has poor voice quality that Microsoft is somehow guilty of this.
Ed Suwanjindar : Is there a question there?
msmobiles.com : Are you asking me? Yes, the question is what do you think about adding voice quality metrics to the basic requirements, platform requirements.
Ed Suwanjindar : I think that any metrics that improve the customer experience are certainly worth investigating.
msmobiles.com : You are marketing guy so I donīt know whatīs your overview regarding organization .... do you have some venture capital organization in Microsoft, venture capital subsidiary which would support start-up companies that use "Windows Mobile" technologies?
Ed Suwanjindar : I am not the appriopriate person to talk about that.
msmobiles.com : OK, so you donīt know simply?
Ed Suwanjindar : There is a difference between not-knowning and not being the appriopriate person. I am not the appropriate person to talk about THAT.
msmobiles.com : So the last question: do you know what is the primary cell phone that Bill Gates is using?
Ed Suwanjindar : He actually... itīs a good question ... he carried this phone around [points to Motorola MPx200]
msmobiles.com : "This phone" meaning?
Ed Suwanjindar : The Motorola MPx200. Although I think, tradionally, he doesnīt spent much time on the phone, he tends to do most of his business over e-mail, ...
msmobiles.com : So this is Motorola MPx200 we can say?
Ed Suwanjindar : He is very often spotted with Motorola MPx200. Very often.
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