CTIA: Drinks with Microsoft for the launch of Windows Mobile 6.1 and then I lost my mobile phone, again

Last night was packed with drama and excitement. First of all I had the best interview ever with Derek (I think its Snyder) from Microsoft. I can’t find his name as I left his business card and my mobile phone on the table at the Venus Bar in Caesar’s Palace in Vegas after the interview. 

I didn’t realise this until a good few hours and a lot more drinks later! I called Derek at 10pm and he took my call (great guy) and I am meeting him tomorrow to get it back as he looked after it for me.

I had borrowed a Microsoft SIM for the FlixWagon N95 device and did the recording with keywords and a title AND it went brilliantly –but the upload unfortunately didn’t work. I spoke to FlixWagon and the company said that it should be saved on the phone and I need to get another US SIM to retrieve, so hopefully I can make that live soon as I focused in on the new mobile search features.

But anyway. As you know I was a judge at the Mobile World Congress Awards  and I was one of the analysts that voted for Windows Mobile 6. I did a lot of work in that judging and spent a lot of time at the time testing all the applications that were in the judging. Microsoft was the best and won fairly.

So, I am very familiar with Windows Mobile 6 and 6.1 was equally hot. But why isn’t mobile search more prominent?

There is a discovery (like Qix and T9 Nav) service but no idle screen search app that really hits the consumer in the face. I want to see a sleeker navigation panel that can be customised to users preferences or learns daily preferences of users as they consume services.

So, although I am a fan. I think that Microsoft should have a couple of light or sister applications that cater for instant access demands via different search criteria. All I want on my idle screen is a mobile search box.

But I think Ewan from SMS Text News also recorded the same interview and I will try and get his video if he has it – if I can’t retrieve mine. It’s a shame because the connection at the hotel wasn’t brilliant – I had to leave to go to another party and give the SIM back to Microsoft and the transmission (I didn’t realise) wasn’t complete.

But after a brilliant time with Microsoft (and they gave me a new Windows Mobile Smartphone) I moved on to the ilovemobileweb party at the Star Trek bar in the Hilton accompanied by Ewan.

I also did a few live clips with Carlo Longino from MobHappy and Rafe from All About Symbian. Carlo’s is still on the device but with Rafe’s the voice didn’t come – just the picture!