Microsoft looking to launch iPhone rival on Verizon's network

[AppleInsider]

Microsoft Corp. plans to take aim at Apple's iPhone with its own version of a touch-screen handset that could launch on Verizon's network sometime early in 2010, according to a report published just minutes ago by the Wall Street Journal.

Citing people familiar with the matter, the financial publication said the two companies are currently discussing possible terms of the deal. It adds that Microsoft has been working on its own touch-screen smartphone hardware under the code-name "Pink."

The project would reportedly leverage and then extend upon Microsoft's existing Windows Mobile operating system, adding new capabilities that would undoubtedly mirror many of Apple's advances in the mobile space, including the Windows Marketplace for Mobile -- a clone of Apple's App Store.

"While Microsoft is involved in the design of the phone's software and hardware,*a third-party*is expected to*make the device, just as Google Inc. has worked closely with partners to make handsets based on its Android operating system," the report says. No further details were reported.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[Mr.Scott]

Okay, okay...that's the best joke I've heard all day.

[Enigmafan420]

I wonder if M$ has ever had an original idea in its entire existence?

No wonder their stock is stuck in the gutter-innovation is something that has seemed to fled them many years ago.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, M$ must really LOVE APPLE

[charlituna]

i wonder if the "People familiar with the matter" are the same "people familiar with the matter" of Apple talking to Verizon for the last six months about giving them a version of the iphone/netbook/tablet.

[iBill]

Maybe those negotiations between Verizon and Apple aren't going so well.

[teckstud]

OOoooohhhh- a ZuneFune!

[tundraboy]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

The project would reportedly leverage and then extend upon Microsoft's existing Windows Mobile operating system

Right there, that's when the project garnered a guaranteed fail.

[htoelle]

If this was not so pathetic it would be laughable. Or in Mr Balmers own words "we are going to give our users a more Mac like experience". I suppose he forgot that to do so he would have to copy mac again. Really it is quite sad. By the way what is the name of this device Zune Phone.
HT

[Roc Ingersol]

Yeah, I don't put it past their hardware division to deliver a quality product.
The question really is: how much corporate meddling from the other side harms the end result.

And an iphone competitor is just too high-profile. Even if they could build something that wasn't just a glossy coat of paint on stock Mobile 7, it'd wind up gimped by policy decisions and partner deals like the Zune.

[iMat]

This really smells desperation!!
Unbelievable. MS is the biggest case of "wannabe" I have ever seen in my life.

If it is true I do hope industry and consumers realize what MS is all about.

MSs business model is a failure in my opinion, and it is becoming more and more evident each day.

[addabox]

If MS runs true to form, they'll approach this as if their client were Verizon, not end-users.

So they'll be explaining to Verizon that they make a much better partner than those dirty fucking hippies over at Apple, because, why, yes, they'd be more than happy to have their phone do exactly what Verizon would like, look however Verizon would like, and use whatever services Verizon deems appropriate.

Which is actually the difference between Apple and MS, in a nutshell, and why Apple isn't selling a phone on Verizon, at the moment.

[tumme-totte]

zuPhone?

Pls grant me a trade mark on that one!

Originally Posted by htoelle

If this was not so pathetic it would be laughable. Or in Mr Balmers own words "we are going to give our users a more Mac like experience". I suppose he forgot that to do so he would have to copy mac again. Really it is quite sad. By the way what is the name of this device Zune Phone.
HT

[Mark Fearing]

It's really amazing that a company like Microsoft gets by with almost zero innovation. So far the management gets by because of those profitable upgrades they force on Biz IT. But just as the ponzi schemes from the wall street types collapsed in time I would guess at some point the Microsoft management will be held accountable for what they have done. And that is go through amazing amounts of RandD and come up with nothing - but to copy another companies products.
This is more then just 'Apple is cool and Microsoft copies them' comment. This is, Microsoft is now officially a very 'goofed' up company that they can't take on a single category of anything and produce an innovative useful product.

I remember Ballmer's disdain for the iPhone. Instead of just saying, 'Yeah. It looks like a cool product, but I'm not sure it will work in the market place. But I give them credit for innovating and creating an ENTIRELY new space in the US market.'

Instead he yelled and spouted hyperbole and acted like it meant nothing. No matter if you like Apple or hate them, the iPhone completely changed the cell phone market overnight.

Microsoft released The Zune.

[alexh4]

Originally Posted by addabox

Which is actually the difference between Apple and MS, in a nutshell, and why Apple isn't selling a phone on Verizon, at the moment.

but Apple wont fall to verizon demands hence adding v-cast to the iphone. Microsoft well let verizon run the show, and when there is no profit, microsoft will play the blame game. love how they do business

[emulator]

Originally Posted by iBill

Maybe those negotiations between Verizon and Apple aren't going so well.

uhm, why? a cell phone carrier cannot have different brands of phones? look at vodafone or t-mobile (in eu), they carry all of them.

[Dlux]

Awesoooooome!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRLRjKCGHek


And what's up with 'Pink'?

If you're going to copy Apple, at least don't copy the parts that failed.

[Bageljoey]

Originally Posted by Mark Fearing

...the iPhone completely changed the cell phone market overnight.

Microsoft released The Zune.

I love how you ended your post...

[res08hao]

I love stories that make microsoft look stupid. Of course, that's not hard to do.
Everybody rejected the dell phone. why is this future piece of shit going to be any different?

anyway, I can't wait to see it, see how badly it sells, see how many problems it has, etc.

does anybody wonder how apple continually and totally recreates whatever it develops?

RIM, a company of faceless and clueless suits, thought making tiny changes to tiny keys was innovation.

[Virgil-TB2]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Microsoft Corp. plans to take aim at Apple's iPhone with its own version of touch-screen handset ...

Or ....

It could be that the three, mutually incompatible, somewhat-ridiculous-on-the-face-of-it, news stories we have heard in regards Verizon in the last week are all just stuff spewed out by Verizon in order to get some press and make us believe they aren't dead?

[P L]

Originally Posted by teckstud

OOoooohhhh- a ZuneFune!

Zunefune LOL

[Leonard]

I have to agree, it sounds like Microsoft is trying to ride on Apple's coat-tails here. Ie. Apple's started some hype and interest in the smartphone market and now Microsoft wants to ride the wave.

I mean you can't blame RIM, Nokia and those already in the market for stepping up, but Microsoft? They didn't even know there was a market!

[8CoreWhore]

They are a glutton for punishment.

[psychodoughboy]

Well, now we know what Engadget fanboys will be hyping up as the iPhone Killer once the Pre comes and goes.

[backtomac]

Originally Posted by Leonard

I mean you can't blame RIM, Nokia and those already in the market for stepping up, but Microsoft? They didn't even know there was a market!

They've had Win Mobile out longer than Apple have had the iPhone.

But Addabox is exactly right in my estimation. MS has catered to carriers and not made a product that appeals to the consumer.

Will they learn this lesson? I don't know.

[dgtlrift]

From the makers of such high quality products as Edlin, WinCE, and Zune, Microsoft brings you the iPhone killer.. I can't even type it without smirking.

[tomkarl]

Originally Posted by iStink

but reasoning around here is starting to go beyond facts and more like mere opinion driven by other hateful comments.

Oh, the horror of it all. Members posting their opinions on a user forum. What's next?

Nice language, btw.

[jimerl]

is this instead of 'origami'? will it have an updated 'BoB' interface? will they be able to sufficiently shrink the 'magic table'? it'll be worth it just to hear ballmer rant about how noone really needs a qwerty keyboard.

<chorus>
fud fud fud fud, fud fud fud fud, fudily fuuuuuuuuud fudfudfud

[Roos24]

Right now: vaporware. Potentially funny vaporware.

[Maestro64]

I think something funny is going on with all these rumors coming out, someone is either trying to position Verizon or they are messing with Apple or MS or all them. Obviously, there is lots of focus on the whole smart phone market space and with Apple and RIM showing more promise than most they appear to be trying to take advantage of this some how

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by P L

Zunefune LOL

I pity the Fool who doesn't own a ZuneFune!

[GTL215]

Originally Posted by iStink

Oh how the hatred flies around here........

You're right. You do stink.

[Virgil-TB2]

Originally Posted by Maestro64

I think something funny is going on with all these rumors coming out, someone is either trying to position Verizon or they are messing with Apple or MS or all them. Obviously, there is lots of focus on the whole smart phone market space and with Apple and RIM showing more promise than most they appear to be trying to take advantage of this some how

All three big rumours have "un-named Verizon employees" at their heart also.

• Verizon is getting iPhone in 2010
• Verizon is getting iPhone "lite" and an Apple tablet this year
• Verizon is getting zPhone this year.

Sure sounds like something might be going on, but all the rumours make Verizon look snappy and all of them originate with ... Verizon.

Me thinks this is probably just a lot of garble from people at Verizon who know something is happening, don't know exactly what it is, but can't keep it under their hats anyway.

[mac1975]

Totally agree with you

Originally Posted by iMat

This really smells desperation!!
Unbelievable. MS is the biggest case of "wannabe" I have ever seen in my life.

If it is true I do hope industry and consumers realize what MS is all about.

MSs business model is a failure in my opinion, and it is becoming more and more evident each day.

[paxman]

This may add credence to the report that Apple is working with Verizon on a smaller iPhone or tablet deal. If Apple tells Verizon: Us or Them - who would Verizon choose - Apple or MS? The fun of an MS deal falling apart because of Apple is almost too much to bear.

[iReality85]

Originally Posted by iStink

Oh how the hatred flies around here. Lets all say the same thing and agree, that makes it right!

First of all, I doubt there's any truth to this. Microsoft has stated for months now they won't make the phone, they'll make the software. Companies like samsung and HTC make the hardware.

Secondly, even if Microsoft DID attempt at a good phone, WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THAT PEOPLE? Apple ignited competition! That's awesome. Instead of bashing anyone who comes along and tries to step up to said competition, you should embrace it and hope it drives Apple to deliver an even better product.

Seriously, the level of contempt you people have for Microsoft amazes me. I know they fuck up, but reasoning around here is starting to go beyond facts and more like mere opinion driven by other hateful comments.

Don't hate on competition, embrace it. Root for Microsoft, hope they deliver, because in the long run you'll profit from it.

I agree. The contempt between Apple fanboys and Microsoft fanboys is only out done by the contempt that exists between Conservatives and Liberals here in the States

[GTL215]

Originally Posted by iStink

Everyone here is bashing Microsoft for making bad products, but then they are bashing them for trying to improve their products. What's the deal?

What's the deal? The deal is that Microsoft is a company devoid of any sense of innovation, and only came to dominate the market because of their highly suspect business practices. There's nothing wrong with improving your products, but you deserve to be mocked when the only reason you're actually bothering with such improvement is because you've already had your ASS thoroughly handed to you by the competition. How many times must Microsoft "miss the boat" on hit products before people realize we no longer need them around?

[Solar]

Originally Posted by Dlux

Awesoooooome!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRLRjKCGHek


And what's up with 'Pink'?

It will be the porn friendliest smartphone on the market.

[GTL215]

Originally Posted by iStink

LOL I gotta remember that one. thanks for the reply

lol

[fraklinc]

Just imagine a device with all the Verizon crap ware + MSN live search as a default search engine = BIG FAIL, and on top of that add Mobile IE and you have a big train wreck.

[iMat]

Originally Posted by dgtlrift

From the makers of such high quality products as Edlin, WinCE, and Zune, Microsoft brings you the iPhone killer.. I can't even type it without smirking.

How could you?!?!

I mean.. How could forget the following wonders:
- Surface
- Silverlight