14 DAY TRIAL // It seems that Microsoft will not introduce a mobile phone that will bear its name after all. While recent rumors have suggested that we might see the software giant unveil such a phone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona later this month, a company's spokesperson stated that there would be no such device - “Microsoft is not doing a phone.”
On the other hand, it seems that all the rumors have been fueled up by the fact that Microsoft is doing a move in the area, namely developing some smartphone reference implementations, yet they are reported to be nothing more than multiple smartphone chassis, and it seems that one of the devices is indeed powered by an Nvidia processor.
The Redmond company isn't doing anything else than developing reference implementations the same way it does in the PC industry. Computer makers are encouraged to build PCs guided by the specifications issued by the software giant, but nothing more.
When it comes to mobile phones, Microsoft is reported to work with several cellphone makers so as to come up with the best implementation of the spec.
According to a post on ZDNet, the same applies to Zune. “The [Zune phone] chassis 1 spec is challenging the manufacturers to come up with something that will please customers.”
At the same time, the software company is reported to rather focus on the development of the Windows Mobile 7 platform. For what it's worth, the operating system could be used for the demonstration of Zune Mobile. We have already learned that Microsoft plans to unveil three new mobile services at the mobile conference in Barcelona, so there might also be future updates of the services coming along with the platform next year.
One thing is sure at the moment - there will be no Microsoft-branded phone this year and perhaps neither in the next couple of years, but things might change at a certain point.