We're just days away from Mobile World Congress where Microsoft is expected to make a few notable
annoucements. Until then, we have to settle for all the hints and innuendo we can gather as Redmond attempts to win back the hearts, minds, and pocketbooks of consumers infatuated with Android, WebOS, and whatever Apple's got cookin'. Like these supposed 6.5 screenshots above, this time showing what looks like a
Marketplace store a la the Zune. We also have CNET reporting today that Microsoft quietly split its Zune team in two on
January 22nd: software and services under Enrique Rodriguez, and hardware under Tom Gibbons who just happens to head-up hardware design at Microsoft's Windows Mobile unit. According Rodriguez, "Zune the service needs to transcend Zune the device" adding, "The goal is to make non-gaming entertainment a first-class citizen within Microsoft's business." That includes expanding the Zune service beyond the Zune and onto more devices than just Microsoft's. Or, "a little further out than just in Redmond," to quote Rodriguez directly. While he wouldn't say specifically when it was coming to Windows Mobile, he did say to expect products other than the Zune player to be using the Zune service sometime this year. Now, armed with those Zune-centric
WinMo 6.5 screenshots and
project Pink leaks, it's not too much a stretch to expect a Zune-like WinMo experience to be detailed in Barcelona. Besides, isn't it about time that Danger made good on that estimated
$500 million acquisition?
Read -- CNET interview
Read -- Latest WinMo 6.5 screenshos
posted Feb 13th 2009 at 8:31AM
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Eddie @ Feb 13th 2009 9:35AM
Love how you worked in the Jason mask there.
Razor1973 @ Feb 13th 2009 10:24AM
It's announcements, not annoucements.
fgains @ Feb 13th 2009 10:49AM
With Windows Media player I can sync all of my Zune music (subsciption and purchases) to my WM 6.1 phone. That might be old news but I just tried last week and when it worked I gave my old Zune 30 to the little sis.
P.S - Using Windows 7 Beta
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Feb 13th 2009 10:48AM
i have a Zune and a WinMo phone and i gotta tell ya, MS is missing a golden opportunity here so far to have what iTunes has on the iPhone. and just to clear things up, im not an MS fanboy, just a fan of good devices (i own Sony, Nintendo, and Palm products among others). but i know that iTunes doesnt offer anything similar to the Zune Pass which would be a plus for them. im not really into listening to music on my PDA but i guess some people are. sounds like a good idea to me.
yaniv.chokron @ Feb 13th 2009 11:46AM
Is it me or is there an icon of Jason Voorhees in the icon tray; to the right of the start on the right image?
M$ Trying to say something? But this phone! Ah ah ah chu chu chu eee eee eee.......
lEE rOY @ Feb 13th 2009 12:41PM
Whats up with this marketplace hype?
That marketplace icon ALSO APPEARD IN THE FIRST WM6.0 SCREENSHOTS PEOPLE !!!
boolean22 @ Feb 13th 2009 1:11PM
Hey, Marketplace is for "Microsoft Marketplace" as when you download purchased WM software. Also, I really doubt *that* boring bag icon would represent something as big n' cool as the Zune Marketplace.
phonjunkie31 @ Feb 13th 2009 1:22PM
that jason mask up there is cool how did it get there i want it on my winmobile phone
boomhower @ Feb 13th 2009 1:54PM
If Microsoft wants to remain relavent in the mobile arena over the long term they need to get on the ball. A proper App store and a revamped interface will go a long way towards stemming the tide until they can get WM 7 out, which will likely make or break them.
gareth @ Feb 13th 2009 2:36PM
I couldn't agree more, why they haven't discontinued the Zune and/ or
mixed the device with a phone ill never know. I own a Winmo phone and
I still cant believe how aged the OS is.
Why they never thought of this before Ill never know. Maybe Win 7 was
taking up their resources...
What upsets me is that their updates are nothing more than some bug fixes and a new "today " plugin. Cmon MS you can do better than that.
Marin @ Feb 13th 2009 6:49PM
Looks pretty good, but is it enough? And when will it launch. I don't know, MS has all the tools to be a dominant player in the mobile sphere with end to end solutions. But they just seem a step behind the market. This does look like a move in the right direction though, as there are a lot of Zune UI influences.
Brandon L @ Apr 14th 2009 8:01PM
MyMobiler FTW.