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Microsoft’s Windows Phone event at MWC kicks off tomorrow at 9AM ET

Posted on 14. Feb, 2010 by IBM. 

If you’re both ready and set, then you’ll be pleased to know that Microsoft has major Windows Mobile goings-on to discuss tomorrow at 9AM ET (3PM here in Spain). What does that really mean? Well based on the torrent of circumstantial (and actual) evidence we’ve seen, it looks like the big M is set to deliver its most important piece of mobile news in years: Windows Mobile 7. Or, Windows Phone 7 Series… or whatever it is they’re calling it these days. Regardless, it looks like a new era for Redmond’s smartphone platform, and we’ll be there covering the whole thing minute-by-minute… as only Engadget can.

If you’re as curious as we are about Microsoft’s plans, the event kicks off on Monday, February 15 at the times below. And here’s the URL to park your browser at to see the action take place:

04:00AM – Hawaii
06:00AM – Pacific
07:00AM – Mountain
08:00AM – Central
09:00AM – Eastern
02:00PM – London
03:00PM – Paris
11:00PM – Tokyo

Microsoft’s Windows Phone event at MWC kicks off tomorrow at 9AM ET originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adobe confirms no Flash in Windows Mobile 7 (updated)

Posted on 14. Feb, 2010 by IBM. 

Look, it’s pretty clear that Windows Mobile 7 will be revealed by Microsoft at Mobile World Congress. We’ve been feeding on a veritable feast of WinMo7 rumors for several months now all pointing to Steve Ballmer’s keynote scheduled for 3PM Barcelona time (9AM in New York). Now Adobe has issued a statement apparently confirming what we’ve already heard: Windows Mobile 7 will not support Flash. Unfortunately, the actual quote carried by Phone Scoop doesn’t mention Windows Phone 7:

“Microsoft and Adobe are working closely together. While the newest version of Windows Phone won’t support Flash at initial availability, both companies are working to include a browser plug-in for the full Flash player in future versions of Windows Phone. More details will be shared at Microsoft MIX next month.”

Of course, the “newest version of Windows Phone” is technically 6.5.3 — a WinMo update recently announced (but hasn’t shipped) and presumably still works with Flash 10.1 beta (but isn’t guaranteed). And since we can’t find the Adobe statement on any of its usual press channels, we can’t say for sure this quote is related to Windows Mobile 7. Still, we don’t doubt the accuracy of Phone Scoop so don’t get your hopes up for Flash in the initial builds of Windows Mobile 7 Windows Phone 7 Series devices.

Update: Sorry kids, we have independent confirmation: Windows Phone 7 will not support Flash at initial launch.

Adobe confirms no Flash in Windows Mobile 7 (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wall Street Journal: Windows Mobile 7 coming next week

Posted on 12. Feb, 2010 by IBM. 

We pretty much knew that Windows Mobile 7 is coming next week at MWC, but the Wall Street Journal has a piece up confirming the announcement, along with a few other interesting details. As we’d heard, the new UI is a riff on the Zune HD interface, and the OS “reflects a much tighter focus” on hardware / software integration, all based around a “small number” of hardware chassis specs — pretty much what we’ve known, but it’s interesting that the Journal‘s source says the plan is to “limit the wild variation” that’s typically been the hallmark of Windows Mobile. The WSJ also says that the long-rumored Pink project is a separate phone designed to replace the Sidekick — which we also basically knew — but that it won’t make an appearance at MWC at all. Hmm, sounds like someone ought tell all those Twittering Danger employees. We’ll see what happens — it all goes down early on Monday.

Wall Street Journal: Windows Mobile 7 coming next week originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft’s MWC digs come together, ‘Ready, Set’ is the theme (and Steve Ballmer’s hosting)

Posted on 10. Feb, 2010 by IBM. 

The fine city of Barcelona is abuzz this week as final preparations for Mobile World Congress fall into place — and as you probably know by now, we’re all expecting Microsoft to pull out all of the stops to introduce Windows Mobile 7. Just like last year, Redmond is renting out the Catalonia Barcelona Plaza Hotel across the street from the convention center to help kick off its announcements in style, and reader Javier has been kind enough to send in some shots of the facility getting done up in Microsoft livery for the event. There aren’t any spoilers here, sadly, but we can see that the company’s “Windows Phone” branding figures prominently (we should hope as much) and they’re using the catchphrase “Ready. Set.” to get everyone fired up. You might say the “wow” starts now — or, you know, you might not. Either way, be sure to keep it tuned right here throughout next week’s festivities, because we’ll be bringing you tons of coverage live!

If you’re as curious as we are about Microsoft’s plans, here’s when the event (which you can bet your bottom euro we’ll be liveblogging) kicks off on Monday, February 15:

03:00AM – Hawaii
06:00AM – Pacific
07:00AM – Mountain
08:00AM – Central
09:00AM – Eastern
02:00PM – London
03:00PM – Paris
11:00PM – Tokyo

[Thanks, Javier M.]

Update: We’ve gotten email confirmation from Microsoft today that none other than the head honcho, Steve Ballmer, will be hosting the press conference — which means we need roughly 20 percent less coffee before showing up than we would otherwise.

Microsoft’s MWC digs come together, ‘Ready, Set’ is the theme (and Steve Ballmer’s hosting) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft CFO says ‘we’ll have much more to say’ about WinMo 7 in February

Posted on 29. Jan, 2010 by IBM. 

Every indication we’ve had out of Microsoft is that Windows Mobile 7 is on track for a grand unveiling at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month, and indeed, Fox Business has none other than CFO Peter Klein on record saying as much — the closest thing we’ve had to a confirmation outside of Robbie Bach’s analyst remarks a few weeks back. At the 4:07 mark of the video, Klein says that the company is “heads down” on WinMo 7 and expects to have “much more to say” about the product out in Spain, which would mark the one-year anniversary since the announcement of 6.5 at the same venue. Considering the brutal response that last version endured over the better part of 2009, let’s hope they’re coming to the table with something much, much more delicious this time around.

Microsoft CFO says ‘we’ll have much more to say’ about WinMo 7 in February originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Mobile 7 roadmap elucidated, starts with MWC 2010 demo

Posted on 27. Jan, 2010 by IBM. 

You know, January is all but expired now. Gone are the heady (or is that headless?) days of CES 2010, and we’re nearly past the rumor euphoria of the decade, so what do we have to look forward to? According to CNET‘s sources, WinMo 7. This year. Sure, we heard as much from DigiTimes, but it’s always good to put a more legitimate source to what is quite the juicy forecast. Confirmation that Microsoft is planning to finalize all code by this summer also meshes with an earlier leak of an LG Windows Mobile 7 handset set for a September release, while the latest Pink phone rumors are also reiterated. At any rate, it all kicks off in Barcelona come February 15, with Microsoft also circling its MIX 2010 web development conference a month later as the time it’ll start dishing the dirt on how to code for the new OS. So there we have it, new consumer phones and a long overdue WinMo overhaul all coming to you within the next few months.

Windows Mobile 7 roadmap elucidated, starts with MWC 2010 demo originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Mobile 7 rumors coalesce around Q4 launch, MWC announcement

Posted on 22. Jan, 2010 by IBM. 

While DigiTimes isn’t our go-to source for all things Microsoft, the Taiwanese tattler does have its finger on the pulse of the Taiwanese / Chinese manufacturing juggernaut. As such, we expect it to be privy to information related to HTC, Acer, and ASUS handsets. So lean in close when it cites “sources familiar to Microsoft’s roadmap” in claiming a September 2010 release of Windows Mobile 7 to its handset partners — the same month pegged by that LG leak last week. That should translate into consumer availability by the end of Q4, or Q1 2011 at the latest. As it’s stated, WinMo7 will bring an improved interface, browsing, and multimedia experience with integrated support for Zune, Xbox Live, and Silverlight; nothing we haven’t heard before (and long wished for). DigiTimes claims that only English and “common European languages” will be available initially with Asian localization coming in 2011. Oh, and it’ll be announced at Mobile World Congress.

One thing’s clear: the rapid convergence of the rumor mill around dates and feature sets has us very excited about Microsoft’s chances at resurrecting its smartphone soul in time for the holidays. As such, we’ll be at Mobile World Congress in force to bring you the full story starting February 15th. It’s going to be good.

Windows Mobile 7 rumors coalesce around Q4 launch, MWC announcement originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Early Windows Mobile 7 build gets handled, incompatible with previous WinMo apps?

Posted on 17. Jan, 2010 by IBM. 

In case you weren’t aware, Mobile-review’s Eldar Murtazin is somewhat of a living legend around these parts. The Russian-borne phone guru manages to get his hands on an ample number of then-unreleased devices and juicy scoops — but he’s also been known to get things dead wrong from time, so keep that in mind. This time he might’ve just outdone himself with some apparent hands-on time with Windows Mobile 7. Here’s what he’s saying via Twitter: the OS has been built on scratch, and none of the old WinMo 6.x apps worked. There’s “a lot of horizontal movements, a lot of additional info by clicks… for WM users it will be a great step ahead. For market it’s a copycat of Android 3.1/3.2 [sic] or iPhone.” No direct comparison to Zune HD, except to say that it’s a simpler UI than what he was seeing here, and also no clue on the kernel underneath. Still, the lack of legacy compatibility is either a huge bummer to the fan base, or if not that then Microsoft is preparing for a two-platform WinMo world. Then again, this is a purported early build (and while we’re at it, an unconfirmed hands-on), so who knows what’s bound to change before the final release. There’s a lot of other details if you’re willing to check his feed, or just head over to WMPoweruser for the abridged / “good parts” version. Boy, February just can’t come soon enough.

Early Windows Mobile 7 build gets handled, incompatible with previous WinMo apps? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 03:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG releasing Windows Mobile 7 phone in September and Android 2.1 in April?

Posted on 16. Jan, 2010 by IBM. 

First LG flat-out says on public record that Windows Mobile 7 is bound for 2010, and now we’ve gotten apparent word that the company has narrowed said release window to September of this year — at least as far as its own devices are concerned. That comes via high-profile French tech blogger Eric of Presse Citron, who while attending a LG Design Lab tweeted (both in French and immediately after in English) that LG Mobile will release a Windows Mobile 7 device in September and an Android 2.1 device in April, first in the US and then Europe just after. The tweets are now gone, but WMPoweruser managed to catch both via Google cache, while we have corroborated just the French one by similar means. So, misheard claims from the company or accidental slip-up of NDA’d secrets? MWC is starting to look more and more interesting.

LG releasing Windows Mobile 7 phone in September and Android 2.1 in April? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 16 Jan 2010 10:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft’s Bach says ‘there are other places where Zune logically could go’

Posted on 11. Jan, 2010 by IBM. 

So that meeting a few days ago where financial analysts physically beat a few choice WinMo 7 nuggets out of Robbie Bach yielded something else that’s pretty interesting, too: the expansion of the Zune franchise. Virtually everyone and their mother has been calling for a Zunephone since the day the first Zune 30 rolled off the assembly line, and a very, very carefully-worded statement by Bach in the meeting has us believing that we could finally see it make the bold leap to GSM (or CDMA, or both) this year. In response to a question about how Zune fits into Microsoft’s mobile strategy, Bach had this to say:

“Now, your other question was about I’m getting old. Zune, so Zune has been critically successful. And the way Zune is going to be successful for us in the future is you should think of that as our media service across multiple screens. We’ll continue to have the Zune device screen. But, we now have Zune on Xbox. We have Zune on the PC. There are other places where Zune logically could go that we don’t get to talk about yet. And I think lots of different screens with that capability can go.”

If you read between the lines there, it certainly sounds like Robbie’s got his eyes on the prize — but whether Zune will come to Windows Mobile or live as its own brand remains to be seen. No guarantees, but we’re hoping all will be revealed at MWC next month.

Microsoft’s Bach says ‘there are other places where Zune logically could go’ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG says Windows Mobile 7 is coming this year

Posted on 06. Jan, 2010 by IBM. 

Check it: LG just mentioned that Windows Mobile 7 will be in handsets this year. This would be the most official recent affirmation we’ve seen from any top-tier company of the 2010 date — but no, they’re not showing any hardware running it here, so it remains more of a magical, world peace-creating concept than an actual product. The wait, it seems, continues — but at least we’re feeling a little better about setting the countdown clock.

LG says Windows Mobile 7 is coming this year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Russia says HD2 will get Windows Mobile 7 upgrade, but other ‘communicators’ won’t

Posted on 30. Dec, 2009 by IBM. 

And what do we have here? HTC’s Russian contingent has been rather forthcoming with its Windows Mobile 7 plans this morning, which will please HD2 owners but disappoint many others. The good news is that HTC’s flagship WinMo handset is assured of getting Microsoft’s finest when it comes out, but the bad news is that the rest of the line will remain stuck at version 6.5 or below. Here’s the tweet in the Queen’s own tongue:

For Diamond 2 firmware is not planned. Of the existing communicators on the market, only the HD2 firmware to get WM7.

Keep in mind it’s still possible, though not altogether probable, that this statement refers only to the Russian market. In either case, if you were holding out hope for your Touch Pro 2 or Snap to keep updating all the way to 7, it seems the odds are now officially stacked against you.

HTC Russia says HD2 will get Windows Mobile 7 upgrade, but other ‘communicators’ won’t originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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