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Windows Mobile 7: 6 Years in the Making (Refresh)
Update 12/1/2009: I’m refreshing this article (originally posted on 9/3/2009) based on a number of comments I’ve seen people make in response to my latest WM7 post.
When I originally posted this article, it didn’t garner much interest, but it seems that with the latest Windows Mobile 7 news I’ve posted, a number of people are making comments like, “I didn’t realize Windows Mobile 7 had been developed for this long,” “Windows Mobile 7 appears to have been created from scratch,” and, “Microsoft had better get it right with Windows Mobile 7, because 6.5 is horrible.” The list goes on, but I couldn’t help and think to myself, “I wonder if these folks even realize just how long WM7 has been on the drawing board… and how much seems to be going into it at that.”
Well, back in September, while digging through LinkedIn profiles (which has almost become a hobby of mine, it seems, lol), I ran across a rather interesting mention of Windows Mobile 7 on the profile of one Vivien Park:
Product / Interaction Designer, Illustrator
Microsoft
2004 – 2005 (1 year)
Illustration for user research and internal communication materials communication applications for Windows Mobile 7 (blue sky exploration)
If you’re unfamiliar with the term “blue sky exploration,” the following is a great explanation:
In some creative circles, ideation is sometimes used along with the phrase “blue sky” exploration. Research and development efforts many times start with a blue-sky phase, meaning a phase of initial work without pressure for particular result. Blue sky efforts often allow all possible alternatives to be placed as possibilities for further examination. Ideation differs from “blue sky” efforts primarily in that “blue sky” thinking is a means of kick-off for a creativity process, while ideation is a process of managing towards final-form ideas.
Source: Adventure Studios
So, basically, if Windows Mobile 7 does indeed hit the market in 2010 as currently planned, that will give it a total planning and development time span of ~6 years. Naturally, things change and change again through the course of development (especially in Microsoft), so there’s no doubt in my mind that the OS we will see in 2010 will barely resemble the original WM7 plans that began back in 2004. And though it’s merely coincidental, is Windows Mobile 7′s 6-year course of development – along with Microsoft’s mention of how big of a bet it is for the company – bringing back memories of Longhorn for anyone else? 
In all seriousness, the main difference there is – unlike with Windows Longhorn – Microsoft has made no promises or official mention whatsoever in regards to Windows Mobile 7. Any build-up and expectation at this point is purely the result of speculation, rumor, and leaked information (slide decks, resumes, job profiles, etc.).
With that said, that doesn’t mean we haven’t gathered enough from it all to expect (or hope, at least) to be blown away! Something tells me Microsoft won’t disappoint with this one, though. What do you think?
-Stephen
http://www.msftkitchen.com
If they've had 6 YEARS to develop it, it had better be absolutely awesome.
@Anonymous: No doubt. The complete and total silence for as long as it has gone on is almost the equivalent of if Microsoft had been spending this time talking about how great it's going to be, you know? Looking forward to it, myself, though. =)
-Stephen
Unfortunately, I think it will be like Vista and require a WM8 before people get excited about it. MS really blew it here. Bach in particular.
Mark: I have to disagree with you here. The only reason Vista was horrible coming out of the gate is driver issues. Sure, it had its other kinks to be worked out, but Vista was also released at a time when 64-bit still had a LOT to be worked out (and most of all of those issues had to do with products from 3rd party vendors; not Microsoft). With everything I have seen, partners and OEMs have been working extensively with Windows Mobile 7 from very early on. If WM7 flops, it won’t be for reasons like Vista. All the same, I think the Vista -> 7 step is going to come in the form of WM6.5 -> 7.
-Stephen
The job descriptions are all good, but the real issue is that the first version of Win Phone 7 will be stripped down completely with a lot of features coming in SP1. Their marketing organization is absolutely one of the worst at MS with many incompetent people who have failed many times in the past and are still hanging around. This game is going to be all about marketing as iPhone was not that great of a product when it came out but with some massive marketing they were able to convince people to buy one. Win Phone 6.5 is actually a pretty good platform but again it’s failing because of poor marketing and incompetency. I do not agree with Stephen that partners have been working extensively…yes they’ve been looking at WP7 but are turning in large numbers to Android; at this time. I am sure there will be couple of OEMs like Moto and HTC who will come out with some solid devices, but it will be all about marketing…And I am not convinced MS has the right talent to execute on this in the mobility group…horrible marketing team!
Wow, Windows Mobile sounds pretty cool. If they have been working on it for 6 years, I am sure it will have great features. Looking forward to reading more about this hitting the market!
Too little too late IMO.
I suffered with Winmob on an MDA Mail and I understand the true horror of it. Whilst the latest Winmob has allegedly been on the drawing board for years, Iphone, Android et al have come along and taken that which Microsoft (IMO) failed to deliver.
Some of the remarks IMO hold little water:
“most of all of those issues had to do with products from 3rd party vendors”
- Really? I would dispute that robustly but even if it were correct, is that any consolation to the users who did have problems? Its always a “3rd party” to blame with Microsoft isn’t it? Even in the last few weeks we see allegations of GPL violations and lifting of code….even Steve Ballmer seems to blame a 3rd party for Vista by saying “listening to early good reports”
Hasn’t Ballmer already admitted “they screwed up with WinMob”?
Quote “Windows Mobile 7’s 6-year course of development”
Great and that is of benefit because? 6 years ago the mobile market was significantly different in terms of available tech, how would the development of this new “wonder mobile os” be benefited when there was no way they could plan for the tech that it would finaly hit? – A rather flippant view I now (but Microsoft’s forsight does not exactly inspire confidence in me since they were convinced HDvd was the format to push for the 360 and ended up losing out to BluRay), but really I think Microsoft have lost this battle too. There are already established names in the market and all Microsoft has got IMO is the bitter taste of the last WinMob.
Going back to all these “3rd party issues” and in respect of allegations of code lifting and GPL violations, are we sure Microsoft still has supervisory control over its projects?
Regards.
Goblin