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Rumor: Microsoft to produce its own mobile device(s) January 26, 2006 [General] | By Edward J. R. Apparently current strategy of Microsoft must be failing: on one hand Apple iPod achieved over 80% of MP3 player market and on the other hand Sony PSP also achieved cult status as portable gaming console and excellent media player. It looks like Microsoft is not satisfied with progress of PMC (Portable Media Center) devices and is pondering release of its own mobile device for media playback: BusinessWeek has learned that the software giant is working on plans to develop its own portable digital media device to rival the iPod, rather than just providing technology to partners. Microsoft hasn't decided if it will go ahead. But sources inside the company and at its partners say Microsoft has put together a team that's considering the business end of such an initiative. To learn more click here (related article at BusinessWeek - one of the most important business magazines in the world). Please note: although Microsoft officially calls all PMC devices "Windows Mobile family members" in fact they are neither compatible with Pocket PC nor MS Smartphone and they can't execute 3rd party applications although they are based on Windows CE operating system - similarly as Windows Mobile proper. So maybe instead of pondering its own mobile device, Microsoft should open PMC for 3rd party applications or base it straight away on Pocket PC platform, rather than using some closed PMC platform that is not usable for anything else than media (video and audio) playback... because after all Windows Mobile for Pocket PC and/or for smartphone already constitutes a very good "portable digital media" platform... Manufacturers of Windows Mobile phones shouldn't worry that Microsoft will start producing its own mobile phones though - this issue relates to media player market that now is being overtaken by Apple iPod and Sony PSP. However one must keep in mind that we live in era of convergence and media playback features in Windows Mobile phones should be yet improved: for example Windows Media player in Windows Mobile still has no support for album art (i.e. showing images embedded in MP3 files). 
(on image above: PMC from Creative [on the left] side by side with a Pocket PC phone)  Post your comment (free registration is required to post, but if you register you can edit your posts later) [ 6 Comments ]
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