Windows Phone Thoughts: Philips Gives Windows Mobile 5 a Helping Hand

"Electronics giant Philips Electronics is putting its muscle into a long-term deal with Microsoft to support Windows multimedia technology in its chips. As part of a nonexclusive agreement the two launched today, Philips' Nexperia semiconductors will include support for Windows Media Audio and Video as well as Windows Digital Rights Management (DRM) 10. For Microsoft, the deal gives the company a chance to further extend its reach past the PC and into devices following the launch of Windows Mobile 5.0, its operating system platform for smart phones and Pocket PCs. With the support of Philips, users can properly view audio and video content produced in a Windows Media format. The Nexperia chip already supports MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 for video and MP3 audio formats, in addition to other advanced application formats like Java 2, Mobile Edition (J2ME), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)... Philips will include the format to its Streamium and Mobile Infotainment products later this month. It's the first major update to the platform since the March 2004 release of a second edition to Windows Mobile 2003."

While not entirely related to Windows Mobile 5, this article does raise a good point. Since Windows Mobile 5's unveiling, there has been an avalanche of support from companies all around the world. With Windows Media 10 technology being a strong point of Windows Mobile 5 and a lot of Microsoft's other media products, Philips have decided to join in on the fun by announcing support for Windows Media in its Nexperia semiconductors - all this gives Microsoft another opportunity to push Windows Mobile 5 as a platform of choice for mobile devices. Who wouldn't like to have their Pocket PC or Smartphone integrating with more and more Windows Media-friendly products out there?