Microsoft working on Windows Mobile 7’s answer to Pre’s Synergy?
By Will Park on Wednesday, May 20th, 2009 at 12:57 PM PST In Applications, Developer, Rumors, Windows Mobile
The Palm (NSDQ: PALM) Pre is as innovative as it is sleekly designed. One of the Pre’s many headlining features is its “Synergy” contact management software. As part of the Palm Pre’s WebOS operating system, Synergy automatically aggregates contact information from all your social networks – essentially making manual updates to your address book obsolete. And, by the looks of it, Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) is working on their answer to the Pre’s Synergy feature.
A new job posting at Microsoft hints at the possibility that Windows Mobile 7 will feature social contact management features:
“The Mobile Devices division is Microsoft’s fastest growing, most cutting edge, and most competitive business. Windows Mobile 7 is a huge, important bet for the company and the team has benefitted from a recent influx of senior talent from around the company. Our users buy Windows Mobile devices to manage all parts of their work and personal lives through the use of phone, email, IM, SMS, calendar, contacts, photo sharing, and access to social networks. “Communications” is the Windows Mobile 7 team that owns that experience end to end from phone to connectivity to Windows Live and Exchange services. Millions of Windows Mobile customers all around the world use what we build in this team every day.
The Communications Foundations team is the engine room that powers these social experiences – the team builds the connectors and Unified Storage models that power all the social & communications experiences for WM7. The team is at the center of the rich change in how communications is happening, driven by the rapid shifts in social networking – Live wave 4, Facebook, Twitter etc. The team is looking for an experienced developer to drive how we enable exciting, new market-changing scenarios based on top of the Unified Store. You will help architect, design and build capabilities to enable these new end-to-end scenarios, and drive a clear model/view separation in our architecture.”
WMPowerUser points out that the mention of “connectors and Unified Storage models” hints at some sort of centralized contact management feature. And, there’s also some language that seems to indicate that Windows Mobile 7 will integrate its social-contacts feature with Zune.
Take this for what it is – unconfirmed speculation. Still, it would make sense that Microsoft is trying to keep abreast of the latest developments in the mobile world. Even if that means Windows Mobile 7 has to play catch-up.
[Microsoft via: WMPowerUser]
Microsoft is like the Chinese – they see a good model, then remake it, then market the hell out of it or force feed it to manufacturers until it’s ubiquitous. Doesn’t make it good, just popular. Well, they had a good run with Windows modeled after the Mac (modeled after Xerox, I know), but how’s that Zune workin’ for ya?
Ever used a WinMo phone? Now, tried an Iphone? Yeah, how about that.
Well, now both Apple and MS will try to play catch up with WebOS, which is completely ironic, since it’s built on the same Webkit as the Iphone.
Remember, it’s not the first one out of the gate that counts. It’s who stays on the bull the longest. We’ll see.
Yeah, just used my WinMo phone to shoot a video and upload it instantly to my Facebook account. It’s a killer app that iPhone lacks. iPhone is not all that.
Wow…Windows 7 is still just a rumor and it’s already playing catch-up? MS is so screwed.
Meant “Windows Mobile 7″…duh.
You’re a Stan.