MP3 playback and add-on programs have been available for a variety of smart- and dumbphones for literally ages. Apple’s iPod touch / iPhone devices have had one single, groundbreaking feature that made them the darling of the press: the excellently-integrated iTunes store.
iTunes is integrated right into the device, and allows customers to purchase a variety of content over-the-air. This insane accessibility is what makes it stand out…and it looks like SPB now plans to bring something similar to the Windows Mobile platform.
While initial reviews of the product (one English, one German) were rather negative about the (pretty expensive) program, I think that we should focus on the consequences that this announcement will have for the Windows Mobile world.
Should SPB adds a music module, Windows Mobile devices are more-less on par with the offerings found in iTunes – in fact, the added TV functionality would give the feature edge to the SPB solution.
The final issue remaining is deployment: IMHO, SPB should give the client away for free in order to gain a bigger customer base for peddling wares to. The current approach hinders individual adoption of the product, and thus keeps users of the inferior Handango InHand application from switching on their own.
As of now, quite a few open questions remain (regarding content sources,…). However, the TamsPPC team is currently pursuing an interview with an SPB official – stay tuned for further info as we get it!
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