Handbags at dawn
With Palm
already in the market, it seems that Microsoft has also joined in the
mud-wrestling contest by launching an updated Windows Mobile operating
system.
The system has an intuitive, finger-touch interface and online
backup. Microsoft tells us it will be around in October. It will have a
fair bit of difficultly as the market is now wide open with lots of
different operating systems fighting for space. Microsoft has been mostly
successful in the business community thanks to its PC-synchronisation and
email server convenience.
Looking under the bonnet of Microsoft's developer
tool kit, it appears that the cunning plan is to encourage developers to
make it look as much like the iPhone as possible. The applications will
be peddled through something similar to Apple's App store.
Microsoft does
have some advantages. HTC has committed to 6.5 with the Pro2 and Touch
Diamond2. So has Samsung with its Omnia Icon. But while most are looking for
the main war to between Apple and Palm, it is likely that it will be decided
between Microsoft and Blackberry. Business markets are always where the
volume sales have been.