Windows Mobile 7 (or just Seven) rumor roundup...

By Daniel Rubino
last updated

Since our big story on Seven a few days ago, leaks and information have continued to come forth.

We'll just summarize them all here since nothing is conclusive yet, but there are lots of interesting tidbits:

  • Windows Mobile 7 session at MIX 2010 announced: Evidently Microsoft is going to host a session on how to make apps and games for Seven in March at the big MIX '10 conference.  Looks like that Mobile World Congress debut is quite likely. (via MobileTechWorld)
  • Twitter comments are coming from some Microsoft/Danger employees. Mention WinMo7 team, doughnuts, private testing, and milestones. Tweets originate not from a Sidekick client but from Microsoft. Project Pink lives? (via EngadgetMobile)
  • Part II: List of those tweeting from Danger/Microsoft: Carlos Picoto, Director of program management at Microsoft; Jeff McKean - Senior Product Planner at Microsoft; Bruno Silva - Director of Development at Microsoft Corp., Zune; Daryl Welsh - Director of Test -Premium Mobile Experiences at Microsoft; Michael Ducker - Program Manager, Premium Mobile Experiences at Microsoft; Namrata Bachwani - Release Manager at Microsoft (Thanks azimmerm)
  • Our leak of the HTC Obsession gets backed up by another anonymous source at WMPU, who says that it is really the Diamond 3, which seems kind of obvious. Also AT&T may grab it too. (via WMPU)
  • Our own source reveals to us that Seven is backwards compatible with WM6.x applications (contra an earlier rumor), but it is limited to resolution restrictions. A security warning pops up on launch, but the program will work.  That info leads naturally to...
  • ...the idea that Seven is based on WinCE 7 aka Chelan, which our man with the knowledge Conflipper confidently states.
  • Finally, commenter drphysx, mentions this article from a few months back, which we think dovetails nicely with our big post.  It seems to fill in the background info on decision making. It's all theory, but we think its well thought out.

We're sure that's just the tip of the iceberg and we're expecting a lot more info to come forward in the next few weeks.  Stay tuned!

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 covering Microsoft since 2007 when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and for some reason, watches. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.

8 Comments
  • WinCE 7? Really? WMPowerUser thinks so as well:
    http://wmpoweruser.com/?p=12295 It looks like WinMo 7 will definitely have a new standard UI library and will hopefully support VS2008. This means that even the most basic application will have a consistent and pretty UI. Also Motorola is still interested in WinMo 7:
    http://wmpoweruser.com/?p=10933 Interesting since I was told by a Motorola employee a few weeks ago that Windows Mobile 7 won't be enough to revive Microsoft in the smartphone market.
  • Motorola is betting everything on droid, but you can be sure that if WM7 hits and hits big on all it's marks, they'll have some WM plans again, probably for mid-late 2011 I'd guess.
  • I think Moto will come back... Droid seems to be suffering from some major 'google backlash' from the Nexus One's release. If China keeps playing hard to get on Droid, I bet Moto will come running back to WinMo and try to skin it a la HTC and Samsung.
  • Does anyone have information about 7 for non-touchscreen style devices? Historically, WinMo Standard has been quicker and far more stable that its touchscreen brother. What's the plan for non-touchscreen devices/funstionality? Many thanks!
  • Good question and one I'm trying to find info on. So far, it's not good news: I'm not hearing anything about non-touchscreen devices or even Seven front-qwerty types. That doesn't mean anything really as it can call change, but right now it doesn't sound as a priority for them.
  • For the people that want to know if Seven is touchscreen only: I am no expert, but since the minimun screen resolution is WVGA, that kinda says enough right? No WVGA on a front qwerty I think. But I hope for you I am wrong. My HD2 has not so much to worry about ;D
  • if a "business version" of WinMo7 is coming out, it would be a stunner for there to be no candybar qwerty devices given the popularity of various blackberry and jack devices.
  • Hmmmm, can someone say - blackberry magnum? (I know it's a rumor phone - but the concept of a 'touchscreen/full qwerty' is possible)... Just need to make that 800x480 fit on a smaller template first!