Windows Mobile 6.5 is no iPhone killer

Davey Winder
Sunday, 22 February 2009 02:58

IT Industry - Market

The media has made much of a Microsoft iPhone killer prototype handset being stolen during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. iTWire ponders if it all might just be a publicity stunt for the failing Windows Mobile OS?

As we reported a couple of days ago, a supposedly 'top secret' HTC Touch handset running a new beta version of the Windows Mobile OS was stolen from a Telstra executive at the World Mobile Congress in Barcelona.

We already know that, deep down, Microsoft prefers the iPHone to its own Windows Mobile devices.

We already know that Apple is moving forward with plans for a $99 iPhone to tackle the real threat from 40 Android handsets.

Perhaps Microsoft knows it has to do something to get the public interested in Windows Mobile, to take an interest in what has pretty much become a non-event in the world of mobile operating systems?

That would certainly explain the whole 'top secret' nonsense surrounding this theft, and why the more gullible media outlets have been spun and grabbed hold of the notion that it concerns an iPhone killer handset.

Let's look at some of the evidence shall we? For a start, anyone who attended the Mobile World Congress will gladly tell you that Microsoft was not exactly doing much in the way of Windows Mobile 6.5 puffery.

Now you might say that if it is top secret then Microsoft would not be shouting about it from the Spanish roof tops. To which I would reply: cobblers!

If there were anything that could truly be considered to have iPhone killing potential in the OS then Microsoft would be leaking it left, right and centre.

So what did Microsoft have to say about Windows Mobile 6.5 in Barcelona, and why do I think it is all just a cleverly spun crock? More on page 2...

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