Windows Mobile 7 slated to arrive in 2010
In a Strategic Update Meeting on Tuesday, Steve Ballmer discussed all things Windows Mobile; its current market position, its standing within Microsoft and its future. Microsoft confirmed that Windows Mobile is one of its core seven businesses with 2,000 dedicated employees and nearly a billion dollars in yearly operating expenses. According to Ballmer, Windows Mobile is trailing both Symbian and RIM in market share and is considered "somewhat unprofitable" within the company. Windows Mobile also sees stiff competition from Apple and Android which currently have momentum on their side. Despite the extremely competitive market and the economic downturn, Ballmer is confident that Windows Mobile will remain strong because of the low price point of some Windows Mobile devices and the fact that Windows Mobile has, unlike Android, a positive price for its software (i.e., its not free and open source).
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