Marketplace not coming to WM 6.1?
In what is certainly an own goal, Microsoft has confirmed to both Phonescoop and theUnwired.net that Marketplace will not be coming to Windows Mobile 6.1 devices.
Microsoft has however said they have relaxed the upgrade restrictions on Windows Mobile 6.1, with any 400 Mhz 128 MB RAM device being eligible, with the manufacturer being able to decide if it wants to offer the upgrade or not. This of course puts the ball again firmly in HTC and other OEM’s court.
Microsoft did say that Facebook app however will be available soon for Windows Mobile 6.1, both Standard and Professional editions.
While this decision appears quite definitive at present I do know from my sources there is still an internal debate going on in Microsoft regarding this move, and with the multiple concessions we have already seen Microsoft make recently, I do not see this decision carved in stone yet.
Via WMExperts.com
Similar Posts:
- First Windows Mobile 6.5 devices coming in third quarter 2009
- Could the new Windows Mobile be based on Windows 7?
- New Microsoft Facebook app video review
- Microsoft on Windows Mobile “we’re not doing enough to sell (our) enterprise connectivity story”
- Why Microsoft can give Windows Mobile away for free
Posted in 
Tags: 
Are they crazy or idiots?
There are hundreds of thousands of WM6/6.1 devices.
How they want to compete Apple with their store if they provide the store only for OS that is not on the market (ok, vendors could update old devices, but we all know that there are official updates of a new OS for few devices only in the past)?
Ok maybe the Marketplace will be launched when 6.5 is out, but the market will be too small for doing a huge business.
Maybe MS marketers should go to the basic school and learn basic math.
[Reply]
simbadogg Reply:
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:31 pm
i dont fault them on it at all, sure there’s a shiet load of wm6.1 devices, but you have to understand that a lot of them were upgrades from 6.0 devices, which had less than the required 128 mb of ram, and 400 mhz processor which are the BASELINE for 6.5.
for example, in the forums for palringo…some guy was complaining that it uses too much resources. and on 2/3 of his phones, they slow down to a crawl when he has them open, no matter what build of 6.1 he uses. thing he failed to say was that he was using a 8125, and an htc wing…both of which are about 5 years old! i mean seriously, the phones only had 64mb of RAM and a 195 mhz ti processor…what do you expect.
its this kind of thinking which really keeps windows mobile hamstrung if you ask me. there’s no distinction between versions, and people EXPECT a windows mobile app to run across all versions. i’m kind of glad that some apps will be designed to be “6.5″…it should be just like desktop programs, it’d be foolish for someone to have a windows 98 desktop, and be pissed off that they’re not able to run vista applications. this is what these same people are doing.
[Reply]
i couldnt see companies now giving us updates.
they have to pay what $15 per license?
why would they do that?
someone please tell me im wrong and that this is likely
otherwise, XDA here i come!
[Reply]
“manufacturer being able to **decide** if it wants”
[Reply]
admin Reply:
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:03 am
Thanks. For some reason I now automatically type device when I mean decide – smartphones on the brain I guess.
[Reply]
So if i read correctly there may be an option for WM 6.1 Devices to upgrade to 6.5 pending HTC’s decision?
[Reply]
ok…this makes no sense. i totally agree with the first post…they could make a kiling opening it to wm6/6.1 devices. sometimes i wonder about redmond….maybe the air has something in it?
[Reply]
Microsoft fumbles; time for someone else to pick up the ball and run with it.
I do sometimes wonder whether there’s actually any intelligent life in Microsoft and several other companies (e.g. HTC). That’s unfair; clearly there is; it’s just not making the decisions.
[Reply]