Windows Phone Thoughts: More Details on Windows Phone Starter Edition Emerge

"Neowin first reported over a week ago that Microsoft was planning a Starter version of its mobile operating system. But that news was overshadowed by all the Windows Phone 7 Series hoopla from the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Windows Phone Starter is similar in concept to the original Windows Starter Edition products. Windows XP and Windows Vista Starter were products exclusively tailored for emerging markets. With Windows 7, Microsoft broadened the availability of the Starter Edition to include all countries, with Home Basic becoming the new emerging-market-only SKU. So far, it seems as though Phone Starter is going to be an emerging-market play only and not a low-end platform for users in developed countries."

Mary Jo Foley has posted a Q&A regarding the interestingly-named Windows Phone Starter Edition that we've heard rumors about. However in the end this piece raises more questions than it answers. Personally I'm not a big fan of a "starter edition" mobile OS, considering that the whole point of a "starter edition" OS on the desktop is to eventually drie upgrades that the consumer is in control of. However upgrade when it comes to "starter edition mobile" surely means new device, right? Ugh...