April 1st, 2008
Another unannounced piece of Microsoft's Windows Mobile puzzle: eLive
Microsoft seems to be continuing to keep most of its Windows Mobile cards close to the vest, even though it is CTIA Wireless week.
At the show on April 1, company officials are talking up some of the new features slated for the updates of Windows Live Search for Windows Mobile and Windows Live Search for Blackberry that are due out later this spring. There will be new mapping and voice functionality, among other mobile Live Search upgrades that the LiveSide guys have outlined in full.
So far, however, no word from Microsoft on Windows Mobile 6.1, the refresh of its mobile operating system that some expected Redmond to debut at the CTIA show.
Microsoft did take the wraps off Windows Mobile 6.1 at CTIA, it seems. It’s due out from carriers some time in Q’2 of this year. Microsoft also announced a forthcoming corporate mobile-services plan that will take effect with Windows Mobile 6.1, as well as a new version of System Center Mobile Device Manager, two mobile enhancements aimd at enterprises deploying Windows Mobile phones.
But there’s still no word on Microsoft’s plans to more tightly integrate Windows Mobile with some of its consumer products and technologies. Seattle Post-Intelligencer’s Todd Bishop attempted to get new Windows Mobile marketing chief Andy Lees to discuss, among other topics, the “Pink and Purple” initiative about which I keep hearing rumors. (Supposedly “Pink” has something to do with taking Zune features to Windows Mobile, tipsters have said.)
There are other Windows Mobile initiatives in the rumor phase I’d like to hear more about, as well. One of these is known as “eLive,” according to sources.
When I first heard mention of eLive, I wondered whether it might be Microsoft’s brand name for the “Connected Entertainment” strategy to which its top execs have been alluding for years now. Or maybe eLive is the name of the “device mesh” that Microsoft Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie outlined in very broad-brush strokes at Microsoft’s Mix conference last month.
Another source of mine said that a key element of eLive will be a single, unified “entertainment marketplace” where consumers will be able to go to buy music, videogames, and other kinds of content that will work on Windows PCs, Xboxes, Zunes and Windows Mobile phones.
Anyone out there have more scuttlebutt on Microsoft’s eLive strategy?
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