11/24/2008, 11:15am, EST
Monday, November 24thMicrosoft building Tegra-based smartphone?
Microsoft is in the later stages of developing a phone of its own that will rely on performance to drive sales, a rumor floated by the Inquirer today claims. The Windows Mobile developer is allegedly developing a phone that would use one of NVIDIA's Tegra processors as its heart. The feature would likely involve the APX 2500 chip and theoretically give the Microsoft device 720p video playback and advanced 3D visuals that are absent on other phones.
This deal may explain the lack of support for Tegra outside of Windows Mobile devices, the site suggests. The phone would reportedly be introduced at this year's Mobile World Congress (3GSM) in February and released not long afterwards, though Microsoft has historically unveiled new versions of Windows Mobile at the expo but shipped them only in summer or fall.
Most observers believe any Microsoft move into making its own phones is likely prompted by the iPhone, which is already threatening to undermine Windows Mobile market share and has been deemed successful in part due to its control over both the hardware and software. Microsoft has always downplayed the possibility of producing its own phone but has repeatedly mentioned porting Zune elements to Windows Mobile and recently bought out Danger, giving it experience with both hardware and mobile software design from the Sidekick.
The Redmond, Washington-based company has often touted the choice of devices and hardware independence of Windows Mobile but also has a history of effectively overwhelming its hardware partners when deemed necessary. The company had initially promoted Portable Media Center and the PlaysForSure program for music but, with the Zune, effectively ended both of these as firms either switched to their own mobile operating systems and switched to more universal standards like MP3 for their music.
Filed under: industry
Other story tags: Microsoft, Windows Mobile, NVIDIA, Zune, Sidekick, Danger, Tegra
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LOL!!
Another Zune?
Microsoft: what kind of moron are you today?
same old MS
If f@rt-in-a-bag was popular, Microsoft would try to enter and control that market share by throwing its billions at it while promoting with silly ads, starring perhaps Martin Short.
Speed doesn't matter
You can make Windows Mobile run 1000x faster and it will still suck. Hardware and touchscreens don't make a phone cool -- software does.
720p?
Is it going to be a smartphone with a 24" screen? Who needs 720p on a device with a 3.5 inch, 480x360 display?
Exactly...
MS is just plain stupid. NOBODY needs 720p on a smartphone with, at most, a 5" screen...not to mention the RIDICULOUS WinMobile UI and the fact that the 720p represents simply a theoretical possibility which, of course, has ZERO use on a phone (unless you wanna use it as an expensive USB stick for transferring movies).
In other words, another failure coming...MS IS DEAD.
cough * ZUNE * cough
Steal and bully
How on earth does Microsoft find any success, much less dominate the computer industry? The business strategy: "Steal/copy and bully" must be more effective than I have imagined.
once again...
MacNN throwing up rumor based news that has nothing to do with the Mac!
Good Job MacNN!
Dear MS:
Please continue to throw copious amounts of money down rat-holes like this project.
Thanks
SJ
UberFu fails
UberFu you forget that what Microsoft does DOES affect Mac, it affects everyone in the computer sector.
Everything Microsoft does affects Mac users either directly (MS Office) or indirectly (Zune, Vista, Windows 7) and as a result we need to watch what they do... even if it is to laugh uncontrollably at their miserable failures.
Let's see...
Apple creates a touch screen that fits in the palm of your hand and Microsoft throws out "The Surface" a coffee table sized touch screen. Apple creates the iPhone to fit in the palm of your hand ergo, a MS phone would be what? A pay phone of old, size wise, with all the trappings?! : )