I read an interesting post over at PocketNow in which Joe Levi compares some key aspects of Windows Mobile to Google’s Android. The article just brushes the broad strokes, but Joe correctly identifies the licensing model as one of Windows Mobile’s main obstacles in the near future. With Android’s open sources, no-license approach which gives Google faster development cycles, quicker deployment to partners, and faster adoption on handsets.
Microsoft has recently signed a deal with Bsquare to handle all their licensing, a move that might end up sinking them, as I contemplated out loud in an earlier post. By adding yet another layer of corporate bureaucracy to their model, Microsoft risks slowing losing any meager momentum they still have.
Thoughts?
by dave on November 9th, 2009 /
Category: News
One step forward, two steps back? Microsoft has just announced a deal with Bsquare wherein Microsoft gives Bsquare the rights for all Windows Mobile licensing. What does this mean? Microsoft has contracted Bsquare to handle Windows Mobile relationships with OEM, as well as “provide reference designs, communication stacks, technical support, training, testing and the like” to the OEMs.
Is a good or bad decision on Microsoft’s part? As Long Zheng points out over at istartedsomething.com:
… delegating the responsibility to what could be potentially many license distributors might fuel competition in the ecosystem to develop higher quality devices as testing and certification improves. This would also allow Microsoft to focus solely on the task of developing the operating system and not spend as much time supporting the relationship with each OEM.
Solid point. Others, Chen included, think that this might add yet another layer of detachment between Microsoft and the end-user. Microsoft hasn’t exactly been responsive or ahead of the curve lately, and the seem at times totally out of sync with what the consumer is looking for (when I tell people I also write for a Zune site, they invariably say ” a what, now?”).
Micromanaged carefully, this could work out for MS. Apparently over 30 OEMs have already been switched over to Bsquare as their contracts expired, and the Windows Mobile camp has been brimming with excitement for several months now, even as the long slow march to Windows Mobile 7 seems so far away still. Early signs of success?
