Microsoft's positioning of Windows Phone 7
This week, Network World chronicles the history of smartphones, beginning with the IBM Simon in 1993 (I learned something new!). Sadly, of the 9 phones displayed in the slideshow, not a single Windows Mobile phone made the list.
Now Microsoft is trying to make a business case for Windows Phone 7 (see https://windowsteamblog.com/windows_phone/b/windowsphone/archive/2010/06/07/windows-phone-7-means-business.aspx), to add to what is commonly perceived as a phone that will be introduced for the consumer market. Microsoft envisions Windows Phone 7 as integrating with other Microsoft products, such as Microsoft Office, Exchange, and SharePoint. And of course they plan to include management and security capabilities.
Meanwhile, Apple, Google, and RIM aren’t waiting idly for Windows Phone 7 to debut. This makes this fall an interesting time to see what happens with Microsoft in the smartphone market, and possibly their last chance to get it right.
