This post was published 3 years 6 months 19 days ago.
It\'s is possible that the information within this article is now out of date or updated.

Microsoft and QUALCOMM Inc. today announced a collaboration that will include support for the Windows Mobile platform on QUALCOMM’s highly integrated Mobile Station Modem (MSM) chipsets. The collaboration will enable device makers to develop more affordable, feature-rich Windows Mobile powered phones while shortening their development times, ultimately delivering Microsoft’s familiar software experience to a potentially bigger market in less time. Support will also give users extended battery life while running a wide variety of business and entertainment applications. 

Demand for Windows Mobile devices is growing, with Gartner estimating sales of Windows Mobile-based smartphones to reach 64.5 million by 2009. Today there are 47 device makers shipping Windows Mobile devices with 115 mobile operators in 55 countries. We are proud of our innovative work with partners like QUALCOMM to drive strong growth in the mobile industry, helping device makers more quickly and cost effectively deliver new devices to customers. 

Microsoft and QUALCOMM will fully integrate and test the Windows Mobile operating system with QUALCOMM’s dual-core architecture. The integration and testing speeds time to market by removing some custom development work device makers previously undertook to build 3G Windows

In the second half of 2006 QUALCOMM and Microsoft are expected to begin offering support for Windows Mobile with MSM chipsets. Smartphones leveraging MSM solutions with Windows Mobile are forecasted to be available in 2007.

As you’re probably aware, QUALCOMM Incorporated is a pioneer of wireless technology and one of the leading enablers of 3G wireless products and services. QUALCOMM leads the world in the development of CDMA2000® 1X, 1xEV-DO and WCDMA (UMTS) chipsets and solutions, and has licensed its patent portfolio to more than 125 telecommunications equipment manufacturers worldwide.

Microsoft and QUALCOMM to Revolutionize the Next Generation of Smartphones

Collaboration integrates support for Windows

REDMOND, Wash., and SAN DIEGO — May 4, 2006 — QUALCOMM Incorporated and Microsoft Corp. today jointly announced a collaboration to enable the porting of the Microsoft^® Windows Mobile^® operating system to QUALCOMM’s Mobile Station Modem (MSM) chipsets. The companies’ collaboration will enable device manufacturers to develop affordable, feature-rich and attractive Windows Mobile-powered phones with MSM chipsets while shortening their product development times. Support for the Windows Mobile platform on QUALCOMM’s highly integrated MSM solutions also gives users extended battery life while running a wide variety of business and entertainment applications, such as Microsoft Office Mobile and Windows Media^® Player Mobile, along with third-party offerings.

“Having support for Windows Mobile on QUALCOMM’s MSM chipsets will bring a familiar software experience to the next generation of smaller, lighter phones with more appealing form factors,” said Dr. Sanjay K. Jha, president of QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies. “Our customers will be able to more quickly design cost-effective and innovative devices that harness the power of our Convergence Platform dual-processor solutions.”

“We know that mobile operators are eager to attract and retain subscribers with an affordable portfolio of Windows Mobile-powered devices. More and more of their customers want capabilities such as mobile e-mail and Office productivity programs in a familiar and easy-to-use software experience,” said Pieter Knook, senior vice president of the

Microsoft and QUALCOMM are fully integrating and testing support for the Windows Mobile operating system with Convergence Platform 7XXX-series MSM chipsets from QUALCOMM, which feature a dual-core architecture with an integrated ARM11 applications processor and ARM9 modem processor for superior performance. The testing and integration speeds time to market by enabling handset manufacturers to more easily develop Windows Mobile-powered devices featuring the Convergence Platform MSM chipsets by removing some custom development work that would otherwise be required. In addition, device-makers can take advantage of the CDMA2000 1XEV-DO and UMTS modem features as well as the hardware-accelerated multimedia capabilities, multimegapixel camera support, 3-D graphics and Assisted-GPS engines from the Launchpad suite of technologies integrated with Convergence Platform MSM chipsets.

QUALCOMM is expected to begin offering support for Windows Mobile 5.0 on Convergence Platform MSM chipsets in the second half of 2006. In addition, Microsoft will incorporate a new Board Support Package and Radio Interface Layer for QUALCOMM’s Convergence Platform solutions into future distributions of the Windows Mobile platform. Phones leveraging MSM solutions supporting the Windows Mobile platform are forecasted to be available in 2007.

About QUALCOMM

QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq “QCOM”)(www.qualcomm.com) is a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services based on CDMA and other advanced technologies. Headquartered in

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Chris Leckness (3547 Posts) - Website | Twitter | Facebook

Chris Leckness is the Owner/Administrator of Mobilitysite. He is a Microsoft MVP, Mobile Devices and a member of the exclusive focus group, Mobius. Chris runs a Mobilitysite, GotZune, and a few other smaller sites and blogs. His personal blog is chris.leckness.com.