Microsoft and its Chinese partners have launched the first generation of smart phones with the new Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system. More than a dozen Windows phone products are scheduled to go on sale in China by the end of the year.
Windows Mobile 6.5 is Microsoft’s attempt to make a mobile phone work like an iPhone. It has what is called a more finger-friendly screen (a phrase we can live without), enhanced browsing capabilities and a free information security service.
Todd Peters, Vice President of Microsoft Mobile Communications Marketing said, "We’re introducing with windows phone a service for free called my phone, which automatically backs up to the "cloud"…for safe keeping, if you loose your device…"
Yes, that does sort of reassure one. Except there has just been a catastrophic crash of a cloud. Perhaps what Microsoft needs to do is launch a mini-cloud where you information is stored in case your cloud evaporates. And let Microsoft say it cannot happen again.
Seventeen Windows phone products will be available to Chinese consumers this year although the differentiators will possibly more in design than in function.
CCTV.com reports the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology predicts the country will have 240 million 3G users within three years. How many of those will be Microsoft based is uncertain. Certainly there will have to be a serious differentiator in price, design or services (possibly all three) for it to dent iPhone.
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