The box cutting story was a misquotation from the NY Times – get the full scoop in this post! Microsoft does NOT intend to cut the number of boxen!!
The Windows Mobile economy hasd just become richer by a very interesting facet: as HTC states intentions to produce 10 new devices running WM or Android in 2009, Microsoft had the gall to state that they want to reduce the number of WM devices on the market.
NYTimes quotes Todd Peters, the vice president of Marketing for Microsoft, as follows:
The reason that Microsoft is limiting the number of phones with the operating system is because, he said, the company does not want to have its efforts diluted over too many devices.
“I’d rather have fewer devices and be more focused,” he said. That way “we get better integration” between phone and operating system.
As of now, Todd has not stepped forward explaining how he wants to cut the number: as Microsoft currently sells Windows Mobile to everybody who has enough cash in his hands, I wonder how his highness wants to implement restrictions. I furthermore wonder what he wants to tell to licensees who are “not worthy of his attention”…and what he wants to do to keep them from switching away to other operating systems like Android or Symbian.
One of the strengths of the Windows Mobile platform has always been its diversity – whatever you wanted, you could be reasonably sure that something running WM exists to fulfill your desires. Reducing this plethora of devices IMHO does nobody any good…which is why I hope to receive clarification from Microsoft on this matter in the near future.
P.S. HTC has announced plans to release 10 new devices in 2009 – I hope that Todd’s pathetic attempt to get NYTimes column space does not motivate them to churn out more Android boxen. Anyways, their quote is below:
For 2009, HTC aims for a revenue growth of 20%, according to company sources. The handheld device specialist is looking to introduce about 10 new models, consisting of Microsoft Windows Mobile and Google Android platform models, into the market this year, indicated the sources.
