Ballmer Hot on Windows Phone 7
While it been in the space for more than decade, Microsoft is a mere footnote in the world of mobile devices. Steve Ballmer hopes and expects that Windows Phone 7 will change all that. I saw a quick demo from a Microsoft employee showing his personal device, and it looked way slicker than past Windows phones. But the iPhone, Droid and Blackberry get slicker with each new rev.
Ballmer talked up the new mobile OS at last week's financial analysts meeting. It's not just about the phone features, Ballmer argues, but the back end. The idea is for the phone to access one's "personal cloud" where key files are securely stored, in this case, using Microsoft's Skyline storage service. Microsoft is also looking to have Skyline pre-installed on new Windows 7 PCs.
I recently broke down and bought a new Blackberry, and it is worlds above the three-year-old phone I killed with a dip in the ocean. But I've got to tell ya, there is nothing remotely sexy about the Blackberry. Guess I should have sprung for the iPhone, which I'll get next time I kill my Blackberry with salt water!
Does Microsoft have a shot at the mobile phone market? Tell us why or why not at dbarney@redmondmag.com.
Posted by Doug Barney on 08/02/2010 at 12:21 PM