Windows Mobile Zune phone looking likely - but do we really care?

Rumours are starting to heat up that a Zune mobile phone might be revealed at Mobile World Congress this month. The combination mobile phone/computer/media player could be a direct Windows analogue of the Apple iPhone… but will anyone really care?

Do eco-phones sell? Another “green” mobile, from Sony Ericsson and Windows Mobile

Making things ecologically sound has found a place for itself in the marketing lexicon. Calling something “green” or “eco-friendly” has a certain cache for a certain audience - and mobile manufacturers have not resisted the pull. The latest eco-phone to hit the market comes from Sony Ericsson… but the Aspen is interestingly different because it’s an enterprise device, aimed at business customers.

T-Mobile rolls out free WinMo 6.5 upgrade for HTC Touch Pro2

One of the few genuinely popular and well-thought of Windows Mobile devices on the market at the moment is the HTC Touch Pro2. T-Mobile carries the phone in the States, and today has announced that it will be rolling out a free over-the-air upgrade for the device. The device ran on WinMo 6.1 when it was launched, and the upgrade will bump it up to the not-particularly-anticipated WinMo 6.5

You snooze, you lose: Android picks up where WinMo was too slow

It has been a week of ups and downs for Windows Mobile. But mostly downs. Its big Korean manufacturing, LG, may have announced it was remaining committed to the mobile OS - but in almost the same breath it also declared it was looking to Android to boost smartphone sales. And many others feel that same. What’s the problem?

Microsoft banking on Xbox Live to boost Windows Mobile sales

Back in July, Shane Kim, corporate VP for Microsoft Game Studios spoke about how Microsoft wanted to take Xbox Live out of your living room. At the time he said that Windows Mobile was the most likely platform for that. And now that prediction has come true, as Microsoft is advertising to hire people who can help them port Xbox Live games to its mobile phones.

Mobile device round-up: Blackberry, iPhone, Twitter and HTC

Here’s a few interesting headlines about mobile devices pulled from the days news. iPhone update: the Chinese still don’t want it. The just-announced 9700 from Blackberry will be shipping with the new Blackberry OS 5.0. HTC has made a surprisingly good impression with it’s latest WinMo device. And a Twitter-only mobile device has raised a few eyebrows concerning being pretty much useless.

Microsoft and DoCoMo join forces for mobile in India

Microsoft India has announced that it is partnering with Indian mobile operator Tata DoCoMo, in preparation for WinMo 6.5. The long-term partnership will see the two companies releasing telecoms products and services for the rapidly expanding Indian market.

Android mobile barcode app ShopSavvy goes WinMo

I’ve been following ShopSavvy since its developer, Big In Japan, signed a deal with DeaLoco back in March. Back then, I felt the biggest problem with the app was that is was on only one platform - Android. But Big In Japan has release screen shots showing ShopSavvy working on Windows Mobile 6.5 - as part of it’s line-up for the Oct. 6th launch.

WinMo advice to charge more for mobile apps may not be the best idea

The first Windows Mobile open developer workshop, WinMoDevCamp, happened this week in Redmond. Of the things to come from it, the most surprising was Microsofts advice that developers should charge more for applications - up to $10.

Windows Mobile phone from Garmin could replace your sat-nav

The use of GPS-enabled mobile phones for navigation and location is old hat at this stage - so much so that “location-based services” or “LBS” has become a buzzphrase that gets thrown into most proposals and press releases. However, most location services on a phone can’t stand up to a real sat-nav device. The navigation services are imprecise and clunky compared to those on a specifically designed navigation device. That could be set to change as sat-nav company Garmin releases the Nuvifone M20 - a mobile phone designed by a sat-nav firm as a sat-nav device.

Mobile OS roundup: Blackberry leaks, WinMo stumbles and Android stalls

Things look pretty grim all around for mobile operating systems this morning. The prophets of doom are out in force for Windows Mobile; G1 owners have gotten a nasty shock about Android updates; and Blackberrys next OS has been leaked.

Mobile News for Leaders