Bonum Certa Men Certa

MSMobiles.com is Dead, Microsoft Mobile Business Abandoned by Staff (Entering Yahoo! Management), Future Grim

Grim mood



Summary: The dark future of Vista Phone 7 [sic] is shown with the backing of many news articles and explanations about the suicidal gambles Microsoft made

Msmobiles.com is apparently dead. It was an interesting place in which to learn about customers' gripes, not just Microsoft's utterly bad mobile products (back when the flag to be carried was "Windows Mobile"). "Interesting article[s] to read and site," said our reader Girts to us.



"Yes, Windows Mobile is dead until it will be open source then it will have maybe bright future," he added.

“Yes, Windows Mobile is dead until it will be open source then it will have maybe bright future.”
      --Girts
Last night we shared some links about mobile market share estimations. Linux seems like the long-term victor and bar software patents it's unstoppable. Referring to US market on the face of it, comScore reported good growth for Linux. Microsoft Nick reported on that and comScore is paid by Microsoft [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10] (comScore is usually showing opposites of what everyone else is showing, so maybe it sells bias to Microsoft). This helps show that even sources that are biased in favour of Microsoft could not help reporting a sharp decline in Windows market share in mobile.

"Nearly Ninth Inning For Microsoft Smartphone Effort" says an article whose language is explained as follows: "Pardon the baseball metaphor but it seemed appropriate: the impending debut of Windows Phones (Windows Mobile 7) is a very high stakes moment for Microsoft, especially in the wake of Kin’s recent failure. [...] The fate of Windows Phones and Bing’s future are not necessarily inextricably linked. Bing has diversified beyond Windows Mobile and can succeed potentially even if Windows Phones fail. But it needs to succeed on its own merits rather than count on default search deals like the one with Verizon (which has seen some user backlash)."

“Linux seems like the long-term victor and bar software patents it’s unstoppable.”Samsung and others are reluctant to experiment with the poor phone platforms which Microsoft produces, especially after "KIN" [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. Some Microsoft partners got severely burned by "KIN", so unless (just perhaps) Microsoft pays them to do so, few companies will even bother with Vista Phone 7 [sic]. "Verizon Wireless Will Take Its Time To Sell Windows Phone 7" says this headline.

Maybe Verizon Wireless still has a sour taste left its mouth when Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) abruptly shutdown the teenage-focused KIN project less than two months after Verizon started selling it? Maybe not. But whatever is the case, the largest U.S. carrier said it will wait until next year to start selling phones based on Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7, reports Bloomberg.


“Microsoft has gotten very desperate and it's nowhere near competitive enough to fairly compete in the mobile space.”Also see "Verizon will not sell Windows Phone 7 devices until 2011" and "First generation Windows Phone 7s won't be on Verizon or Sprint".

The Microsoft boosters cheer Microsoft's scheme of paying to exclude rivals at Verizon (background in [1, 2, 3]), whereas others are more critical ("Fascinate Fiasco: Is Verizon Blocking Google Search?").

They just can't compete, so instead they try to tax Linux-powered phones. "Microsoft Must Make Its Own Phone If Wants To Make Money," says Business Insider, but Microsoft tried it with "KIN" and it won't be doing that again. See "Microsoft Isn't Planning On Making Any More Cellphones" and "Microsoft Has No Plans for Design Another Smartphone - Executive." It just won't happen, unless Microsoft is lying yet again.

“An alternative route Microsoft seems to be exploring is entry through acquisition and/or entryism (the cheaper way).”An alternative route Microsoft seems to be exploring is entry through acquisition and/or entryism (the cheaper way). Recall Yahoo! hijack through entryism and see the news about "Microsoft Windows Phone 7 exec leaves for Yahoo" (also covered in [1, 2]). The original report ("Another Former Microsoft Exec to Yahoo, Joining Other Ex-Softies") says: "He is now SVP of Yahoo’s communications products and communities unit." Many of his 'new' Yahoo colleagues are former colleagues from Microsoft, who helped take over Yahoo! so that it doesn't need to be acquired in order to be exploited.

“This potential Nokia invasion would require Elop to surround himself with former colleagues from Microsoft (like Maritz in VMware) or sign some new Microsoft deals.”Speaking of entryism, here is the type of articles we alluded to some days ago; it's titled "Will Microsoft And Nokia Team Up To Take On Apple, Google?" (source: TechCrunch).

This potential Nokia invasion would require Elop to surround himself with former colleagues from Microsoft (like Maritz in VMware) or sign some new Microsoft deals. Nokia soared when the appointment was announced. There are also some suggestions (still) that Microsoft should by RIM. One columnist asked, "Will Steve Ballmer Buy RIM Now Just To Destroy Nokia?"

One financial news site asked, "Should Microsoft buy RIMM?" Another one asked, "How Would You Feel If Microsoft Buys RIM?"

“Microsoft just cannot buy Apple and Google.”Microsoft may need to borrow more money to just duplicate and saturate what it already has (shades of Danger) and have more proprietary software whose market is stagnating due to lack of technical edge anyway. Microsoft just cannot buy Apple and Google. Microsoft was asleep behind the wheel for far too long and investors who pushed for the ousting of Ballmer were mentioning RIM takeover almost 2 years ago (when Microsoft was in less of a desperate state).

RIM has just bought DataViz [1, 2, 3], which significantly reduced chances of RIM planning to be acquired. The question is, will RIM's ownership of DataViz impact support/availability on other platforms? "DataViz Keeps Documents To Go Updates Coming" says IDG. Oddly enough, one article says "RIM Buys Another Company -- This Time To Defend Itself Against Microsoft"

“Joe Wilcox, a former Microsoft watcher, says that IDC and Gartner mobile OS forecasts may not be trustworthy...”Microsoft is hardly its main competition in phones, just in office suites. The thing about Microsoft in mobile is that it is almost irrelevant everywhere in mobile devices (tablets too), it just roars a lot and organises a funeral for BlackBerry rather than for itself.

Going back to Nokia again, the Microsoft boosters have an audiocast about this subject which we covered too much already. Microsoft executive Stephen Elop jumping to Nokia is something which we mentioned in the previous post and well before that. Joe Wilcox, a former Microsoft watcher, says that IDC and Gartner mobile OS forecasts may not be trustworthy (check their clients list because IDC and Gartner have questionable practices). Scepticism withstanding, one writer is saying or rather just asking, "Can Android Be Stopped in the World of Smartphones?" He is confused by IDC and IDG (see cross/strikeout), but they are inherently the same, one is a subset. "Microsoft Faces an Uncertain Future in Search, Mobile OS and Cloud Computing (MSFT)" says another new article and even firms that Microsoft is paying cannot spin in Microsoft's favour anymore (neither regarding present nor future). Microsoft boosters just admit that "Research firm has low expectations for Windows Phone 7" (this is Microsoft Nick's headline).

“Way to spend half a billion dollars marketing a technically bad product!”"Microsoft Struggles to Gain in Mobile Search" says the headline from Murdoch's press and the advertisements (brainwash) for Microsoft's mobile business get negative reactions/reviews. Way to spend half a billion dollars marketing a technically bad product!

"Yes, Windows Phone 7 is doomed" says the headline from TG Daily, a site which is usually in favour of Microsoft's interests. "Because I’m not sure if there is anyone I know who would seriously consider purchasing a Windows-powered phone," wrote the author. "Seriously, folks, how many people do you see running around proudly flashing their Zunes? "Um, yeah.

" Probably not that many, right?"

“Delays and setbacks are already hitting Vista Phone 7 and it is not helping that Microsoft has been ‘rebooting’ everything, including backward compatibility.”Delays and setbacks are already hitting Vista Phone 7 [1, 2] and it is not helping that Microsoft has been 'rebooting' everything, including backward compatibility. "The Windows Phone 7 gives a fresh start to Microsoft," says this article. Does that make Microsoft a startup contender? Again, this is suicidal and a lot of marketing is the only impact Vista Phone 7 will have. Expect a lot of marketing (as much as Vista 7 marketing, budget-wise). Just how many gullible souls can Microsoft lure into Kin2K? Frankly, in order to save money, Microsoft ought to just cancel this whole product before launch. It does not need to be launched just for the sake of it. Learn from Courier, Microsoft, and spare the money.

Just don't expect any pornography to attract users to Vista Phone 7. Microsoft is barring that too, just like Apple and unlike Android/Linux/Google. Given that Microsoft starts from 0% market share, is it not too risky and premature to place restrictions on developers? This is gonna be atrocious; both journalists and analysts feel that way too (not necessarily Microsoft PR people or bribed journalists/analysts in this $500,000,000 marketing frenzy).

Recent Techrights' Posts

Comparing U.E.F.I. to B.I.O.S. (Bloat and Insecurity to K.I.S.S.)
By Sami Tikkanen
New 'Slides' From Stallman Support (stallmansupport.org) Site
"In celebration of RMS's birthday, we've been playing a bit. We extracted some quotes from the various articles, comments, letters, writings, etc. and put them in the form of a slideshow in the home page."
Thailand: GNU/Linux Up to 6% of Desktops/Laptops, According to statCounter
Desktop Operating System Market Share Thailand
António Campinos is Still 'The Fucking President' (in His Own Words) After a Fake 'Election' in 2022 (He Bribed All the Voters to Keep His Seat)
António Campinos and the Administrative Council, whose delegates he clearly bribed with EPO budget in exchange for votes
Adrian von Bidder, homeworking & Debian unexplained deaths
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Sainsbury’s Epic Downtime Seems to be Microsoft's Fault and Might Even Constitute a Data Breach (Legal Liability)
one of Britain's largest groceries (and beyond) chains
 
People Don't Just Kill Themselves (Same for Other Animals)
And recent reports about Boeing whistleblower John Barnett
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Monday, March 18, 2024
IRC logs for Monday, March 18, 2024
Suicide Cluster Cover-up tactics & Debian exposed
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Gemini Links 19/03/2024: A Society That Lost Focus and Abandoning Social Control Media
Links for the day
Matthias Kirschner, FSFE: Plagiarism & Child labour in YH4F
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Linux Foundation Boasting About Being Connected to Bill Gates
Examples of boasting about the association
Alexandre Oliva's Article on Monstering Cults
"I'm told an earlier draft version of this post got published elsewhere. Please consider this IMHO improved version instead."
[Meme] 'Russian' Elections in Munich (Bavaria, Germany)
fake elections
Sainsbury's to Techrights: Yes, Our Web Site Broke Down, But We Cannot Say Which Part or Why
Windows TCO?
Plagiarism: Axel Beckert (ETH Zurich) & Debian Developer list hacking
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Links 18/03/2024: Putin Cements Power
Links for the day
Flashback 2003: Debian has always had a toxic culture
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
[Meme] You Know You're Winning the Argument When...
EPO management starts cursing at everybody (which is what's happening)
Catspaw With Attitude
The posts "they" complain about merely point out the facts about this harassment and doxing
'Clown Computing' Businesses Are Waning and the Same Will Happen to 'G.A.I.' Businesses (the 'Hey Hi' Fame)
decrease in "HEY HI" (AI) hype
Free Software Needs Watchdogs, Too
Gentle lapdogs prevent self-regulation and transparency
Matthias Kirschner, FSFE analogous to identity fraud
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Gemini Links 18/03/2024: LLM Inference and Can We Survive Technology?
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Sunday, March 17, 2024
IRC logs for Sunday, March 17, 2024
Links 17/03/2024: Microsoft Windows Shoves Ads Into Third-Party Software, More Countries Explore TikTok Ban
Links for the day
Molly Russell suicide & Debian Frans Pop, Lucy Wayland, social media deaths
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Our Plans for Spring
Later this year we turn 18 and a few months from now our IRC community turns 16
Open Invention Network (OIN) Fails to Explain If Linux is Safe From Microsoft's Software Patent Royalties (Charges)
Keith Bergelt has not replied to queries on this very important matter
RedHat.com, Brought to You by Microsoft Staff
This is totally normal, right?
USPTO Corruption: People Who Don't Use Microsoft Will Be Penalised ~$400 for Each Patent Filing
Not joking!
The Hobbyists of Mozilla, Where the CEO is a Bigger Liability Than All Liabilities Combined
the hobbyist in chief earns much more than colleagues, to say the least; the number quadrupled in a matter of years
Jim Zemlin Says Linux Foundation Should Combat Fraud Together With the Gates Foundation. Maybe They Should Start With Jim's Wife.
There's a class action lawsuit for securities fraud
Not About Linux at All!
nobody bothers with the site anymore; it's marketing, and now even Linux
Links 17/03/2024: Abuses Against Human Rights, Tesla Settlement (and Crash)
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Saturday, March 16, 2024
IRC logs for Saturday, March 16, 2024
Under Taliban, GNU/Linux Share Nearly Doubled in Afghanistan, Windows Sank From About 90% to 68.5%
Suffice to say, we're not meaning to imply Taliban is "good"
Debian aggression: woman asked about her profession
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Gemini Links 17/03/2024: Winter Can't Hurt Us Anymore and Playstation Plus
Links for the day