Microsoft unveils Windows Mobile
Updated on 06 October 2009
Microsoft hopes its Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system will allow it to compete more effectively with Apple and Google in the mobile phone market.
The rather unglamorous sounding Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system updates its already widespread mobile operating system. It features Microsoft's new search system, Bing, and Windows Marketplace, which is similar to Apple's App Store.
Although it will not work on the Apple iPhone, it will be installed on scores of other mobile phones from companies including HTC, Samsung, Toshiba, LG and Sony Erickson. And it will be available on O2, Orange and Vodafone.
Smart phone users are able to access the internet without turning to bulky hardware, so Microsoft is making a clear attempt to create software that will promote its own products.
Like the iPhone, Windows Mobile is touch-screen and allows use to customise certain parts of the phone display. But it has not impressed technology analysts.
Avi Greengart of Current Analysis said: "They're still significantly behind in terms of consumer user experience.
"If they don't catch up soon they'll start losing relevance."
However, when I played with a number of the phones at the launch way at the top of London’s Centre Point, I was rather impressed. Having used for a day before discarding a number of Microsoft based phones, it seemed a real improvement.
The touch-screen was smooth to use, although the familiar "pinching" two-fingered operation that is central to the iPhone was missing.
I particularly liked the My Phone feature that allows you to constantly back up to the web text messages, photos and other content stored on the phone. It also allows you to track down your phone via the internet if you’ve lost it, with rather helpful maps.
Perhaps the most novel feature was the ability to make your phone ring loudly, even if you’ve set it to silent. This could remove the constant hunt for hard-to-hear vibrations I seem to have when I lose my phone
The Windows Marketplace mobile app store is another new development, although at the moment it is rather sparsely populated. It allows you to download free and paid-for applications to use on your phone.
I particularly liked the ability to “return” apps within 24 hours if you don’t like them. Anyone whose purchased apps for their iPhone or Blackberry will know that occasionally you end up purchasing a dud app that within minutes you know you will never use again.
The launch is a big deal for Microsoft, and they will be spending millions advertising the advantages of a Windows-powered phone on television, online and on digital billboards across the world.
It comes just weeks ahead of the launch of their new PC operating, system Windows 7.
Microsoft is suffering for a number of reasons, some of which are pretty obvious. The recession means fewer people are working in offices and therefore there are fewer computers running Microsoft's expensive operating systems.
Until the job market picks up, companies need fewer computers, and the recession means they're not as likely to upgrade them to new PCs, complete with a shiny new licence for Microsoft Windows.
The growth of netbooks, slimmed down laptops, has also helped contribute to Microsoft's problems. They now account for around 20-25 per cent of new PC sales and many include free operating systems based on Linux, rather than the more expensive Microsoft Windows systems.
Those that do have Windows use the older, lighter and cheaper Windows XP rather than Windows Vista. Google is attacking Microsoft directly in this market with the upcoming launch of the free Chrome OS operating system in the next few months.
And, of course, Google has a growing mobile phone operating system that is aggressively competing in Microsoft’s market. Its main attraction is - like most Google products - that it’s free.
That’s something that Microsoft, a company that is built all around selling rather expensive software, finds hard to compete with.
