Microsoft confirims next-gen hardware 'chassis'

By Phil Nickinson
last updated

It's long been rumored that Microsoft is trying to separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to hardware on which Windows Mobile runs. In particular was the fabled "reference chassis," from which manufacturers would base future Windows phones. And that's apparently been confirmed. Speaking to ITPro, Microsoft business marketing manager James McCarthy said:

“In the future, we are looking to deepen our development work with a handful of key OEMs at the hardware design phase, with much more carefully defined hardware specifications to match software requirements, which in turn will deliver even more powerful mobile experiences for our customers.“This has led to this chassis’ concept that is familiar to the work Microsoft does with hardware partners in the PC industry to create high quality products.”

There's plenty more in the ITPro piece, including a number of predictions that we've been making for some time — Zune-like multimedia and the like. As for exactly what the chassis comprises, well, we've got our theories ...

Via wmpoweruser

Phil Nickinson
Phil Nickinson

Phil is the father of two beautiful girls and is the Dad behind Modern Dad. Before that he spent seven years at the helm of Android Central. Before that he spent a decade in a newsroom of a two-time Pulitzer Prize-finalist newspaper. Before that — well, we don't talk much about those days. Subscribe to the Modern Dad newsletter!

4 Comments
  • This kind of thing has been needed for a while. One of the biggest problem with WM phones has been performance...which comes from crappy hardware. The other is support, why does the original iPhone get 4 ROM revisions officially supported, yet the 8125 (HTC Wizard) get just 1 update? Rediculous, support your products post release MS/H/W Developments/Networks.
  • Zune Phone! Zune Phone! I tell ya, no matter how much they might be denying it, I think they're gonna take the Zune HD and add a radio to it! Hoping, anyway! :)
  • I meant phone radio hardware... typo!
  • The requirements found by following the link above were understandably uninspiring (just like the minimum requirements Microsoft puts out for desktop and notebook systems.) What Microsoft really needs is to address the OS upgrade-ability of WM-based phones. In general, manufacturers may allow one OS rev for a model. The HTC TP2 and D2 are a case in point. However, the industry led by Apple, Google and Palm are thankfully moving away from that model. Microsoft needs to work with it partners to insure that new phones have sufficient headroom to accept multiple OS updates.