Thursday, January 6, 2005
Microsoft Phasing Out Pocket PC And Smartphone... Brands!
Posted by Ed Hansberry in "NEWS" @ 05:00 PM
http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/01/06/HNmicrosoftphaseoutpocket_1.html
When I read the headline all I saw was "CES: Microsoft to phase out Pocket PC, Smartphone" and thought "What in the world...?" 8O Turns out it is just the brand names though.
"Microsoft is gradually phasing out its Pocket PC and Smartphone brands in favor of an overarching Windows Mobile brand, a company representative said Thursday. In the past 18 months, Microsoft has already been pushing the Windows Mobile brand more than the individual Pocket PC and Smartphone names. Over the next year or two, the product category names will be completely phased out as the technologies merge, said Scott Horn, a senior director in Microsoft's Mobile and Embedded Devices group in an interview at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas."
I will be glad to see the products merge. Small square screens in a flip phone design. Is it a Pocket PC or a Smartphone? Who cares? It should also go a long way to eliminating confusion about what device can do what, assuming Microsoft merges the functionality as well. And for the first time in 4 years, I think MS is moving towards shorter names, getting rid of "for Pocket PC Phone Edition" and similar trailers. :wink:
When I read the headline all I saw was "CES: Microsoft to phase out Pocket PC, Smartphone" and thought "What in the world...?" 8O Turns out it is just the brand names though.
"Microsoft is gradually phasing out its Pocket PC and Smartphone brands in favor of an overarching Windows Mobile brand, a company representative said Thursday. In the past 18 months, Microsoft has already been pushing the Windows Mobile brand more than the individual Pocket PC and Smartphone names. Over the next year or two, the product category names will be completely phased out as the technologies merge, said Scott Horn, a senior director in Microsoft's Mobile and Embedded Devices group in an interview at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas."
I will be glad to see the products merge. Small square screens in a flip phone design. Is it a Pocket PC or a Smartphone? Who cares? It should also go a long way to eliminating confusion about what device can do what, assuming Microsoft merges the functionality as well. And for the first time in 4 years, I think MS is moving towards shorter names, getting rid of "for Pocket PC Phone Edition" and similar trailers. :wink:
