Zune media software and over-the-air updates coming to WinMo

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Zune media software and over-the-air updates coming to WinMo

By CAROLINE GABRIEL

Published: 16 April, 2009

Windows Mobile has been the ugly duckling of the mobile operating systems this year, failing to deliver major improvements as Android and Symbian leapt ahead. But looking forward to the delayed release 7.0, due next year, and buoyed by its important deal with LG, Microsoft is planning a series of enhancements to lure attention back to its platform.

One is likely to be over-the-air software updates, as suggested by a recent job advertisement from the Redmond firm, which said: "Have you wished to see your Windows Mobile phone with new features 'magically' show up without you buying a new one? We are in Windows Mobile device update team."

However, many believe the Device Update service may not make it into the imminent release 6.5, but will have to wait for 7.0, despite CEO Steve Ballmer's recent promises of an accelerated WinMo development process.

The creation of a 'Zune phone', based on Microsoft's music player and designed to rival the integrated iPhones/iTunes proposition, has been a rumor for almost as long as the 'nano iPhone'. The latest - and more realistic - reports are that the Zune software will be incorporated into Windows Mobile to support music-optimized handsets that would work with the Zune store, and play alongside Sony Ericsson's Walkman/PlayNow or Nokia's 5580/Comes With Music offerings.

According to Information Week, the software giant is currently choosing an advertising agency to market a product codenamed 'Pink', which will involve bringing Zune's multimedia software to other devices. As Microsoft has not significantly updated WinMo's multimedia capabilities since the launch of the iPhone - while most mobile majors have rushed to respond to Apple's challenge - its platform badly needs a facelift in this area. The

Windows Media Player Mobile for audio and video does not provide such a smooth or integrated playing or shopping experience as newer smartphone platforms, but by contrast, the latest version of the Zune software/user experience gained widespread praise.

Given the rising number of major handset vendors that are supporting WinMo, at least as a secondary OS - Sony Ericsson with Xperia X1, Samsung with Omnia and so on - it seems increasingly unlikely that Microsoft will risk antagonizing them by making its own Zune phone, rather than letting them use the Zune software, and possibly contribute to enhancing it. The wide ranging alliance with LG, which has promised 50 WinMo devices in 2009-2010, will be particularly valuable in this respect.