HTC: Sense is part of our Windows Phone 7 boxen

Frequent Mobile World Congress visitors will never forget the man pictured on the left – this unfortunate Toshiba PR person had the unfortunate honor of jumping into the neck of more than one member of the press who felt that there are too many “custom user interfaces”.

Even though his behavior was especially funny, his employer was not the only house in question. HTC also produces Windows Mobile device with a custom user interface. However, Microsoft intends to take “More control” over the look and feel of Windows Phone 7 devices – does that mean the end of custom user interfaces?

Forbes.com now quotes Drew Barnford from HTC as following:

…

“Microsoft has taken firmer control of the core experience [in Windows Phone 7], but we can still innovate,” says Bamford. The future version of Sense, he adds, won’t look the way it does on current Windows Mobile (6.5) phones, where it basically replaces all the core applications and is fully integrated into the phone.

Nevertheless, HTC is optimistic about the Windows Phone 7 launch, according to Bamford. “We won’t be able to replace as much of the core Windows Phone experience, but we will augment it,” he says.

…

Let’s see what he really means – if the “new Sense” is but a few extra programs in the ROM, Microsoft will have nothing against it while HTC will be allowed to “keep its face”.

If HTC, on the other hand, gets away with significant retooling, I expect a new wave of custom UI’s following suite…

Related posts:

1. HTC: no complete Sense UI on Windows Phone 7
2. Making SENSE of HTC’s dumbphone
3. Making sense of the Windows Mobile 7 “megaleak”
4. Microsoft: Windows Phone 7 on all UK operators
5. Windows Phone 7: less preloaded software