HP no longer listed as a Windows Phone 7 launch partner? We shrug.

By Daniel Rubino
last updated

In an updated slide presented by Steve Ballmer during WPC10 the other day, HP was notably absent from the "launch partner" list for Windows Phone 7.

Unless they were just forgotten, it's sort of a big deal since HP was initially listed months ago as being one of the big OEMs to release a WP7 device this fall. Of course with their acquisition of Palm and specifically their WebOS, it's probably not a huge surprise that they've cold feet--even if they don't consider smartphones 'hard' or their main focus. Then again, they are still listed as a Microsoft slate-partner, even though they've said they would do a WebOS slate, possibly this year. Going further, this seems to contradict earlier reports that HP was "committed" to Windows Phone 7--even though they never actually stated as much.

Of course, while we're always excited about Microsoft working with as many OEMs as possible for design innovation and just general competition reasons, HP has not exactly lit the world on fire with their WM6.5 push in 2009 and we can't say we're too sad not to see them not listed.

Heck, with Dell being on board, we'll take that swap any day.

[via MobileTechWorld]

Daniel Rubino
Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been here covering Microsoft since 2007 when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Microsoft Surface, laptops, next-gen computing, and for some reason, watches. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics and ran the projectors at movie theaters, which has done absolutely nothing for his career.

8 Comments
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VlQM95MD_I , you can see why windows 7 slate is COMPLETELY FAILED!
  • Oh no, heaven forbid a demo unit has problems! It's the end of the world! By the way, this post was about HP and doing WP7 not about slates per se, but hey whatever.
  • You do realize that they are still making their slate with windows7, right? Oh, and Windows7 is built around multitouch. Pinch to zoom, flick to scroll, virtual keyboard and handwriting recognition that is second to none. All of the first party Windows7 programs now use the ribbin UI. Which is a touch friendly interface. Right clicking is done by pressing with your index finger and tapping with your middle.
  • "Launch Partner" is being misinterpreted here. There is absolutely no commitment by any partner to provide anything at launch other than permission to use their name in presentations such as this one. Microsoft could list God as a launch partner, exactly the same commitment would be implied. What really matters is what hardware and software is actually available at launch and that will only really be known then, regardless of what shows up on yet another PP slide.
  • Fair enough. Although on the latest slide, "launch partner" is not included, just devices launching this year. At the very least, we know that HP won't have a WP7 device in 2010. It is kind of conspicuous that they have gone missing.
  • Personally, I really hope the 'dockable slate' that ASUS showed off makes it to market. I thought it was a really cool concept. Literally a laptop that the screen detaches.
  • Dell is missing as well. I think this may be bigger news considering a lot of people were excited about getting a lightning guess we might have to wait for that one
  • nvm i see dell haha. i cant wait to get the lightning or samsung