PARING IT DOWN
Microsoft's making some headway in it's battle for the second of the three screens.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Vodaphone is in a handset deal with Microsoft. Here are the notable excerpts:
"Vodafone Group PLC said it struck a deal with Microsoft Corp. to standardize software on its handsets in a bid to reduce costs and simplify the rollout of new data applications.
Vodafone, one of the world's largest cellphone operators, said that over the next five years, it plans to cut the number of mobile operating platforms from 20 to three, as it looks to reduce development costs and improve the way software works on phones. The two platforms Vodafone plans to use alongside Microsoft Windows Mobile are Symbian/Series 60 and open source Linux software...
"Of the three software systems that were selected, Symbian/Series 60 is the most popular because it was developed by Nokia Corp. and is used in all of its higher-end smartphones, which run computer-like applications.
Series 60 software was used in 79% of all 7.3 million smartphones sold in the third quarter in Europe, Middle East and Africa, according to market research group Canalys. Microsoft Windows Mobile was in 17% of phones.
Smartphones are the most expensive handsets, and the majority of 970 million phones expected to be sold world-wide this year are not "smart."
And then there were three. Way to go, Microsoft.
MSFT seems to be inking lots of deals in the mobile sector. Other than Vodafone, MSFT has also linked up with Orange, another british telecom, even Palm is relying on former rival Microsoft to help it try to regain the dominance it once had.
Back in 03, RealNetworks had fought off arch rival Microsoft by winning a deal to supply its video and audio streaming products to Vodafone, seems like the tables are turning.
MSFT has about 18% mobile market share in Europe, about 50+% in Asia, but not so much in NA, which MSFT is trying to get.
But investors need to ask how much of this will matter to the bottom line? Not that much, it's about "Vista".
Other than Vista, the only positive for MSFT shareholders is the completion of a $30 billion share buyback program, and a $4 billion modified "Dutch auction" tender offer.
As of September 06, MSFT had some $35 billion in repurchase authorizations available
Posted by: Yaser Anwar | Tuesday, November 07, 2006 at 03:38 AM
Thing is, Vista is just not that cool. Especially if you've used a mac in the last five years. (And yes, I have used it, I get the betas via msdn.)
Posted by: candice | Tuesday, November 07, 2006 at 10:05 PM