Microsoft has recently revealed that their strategy still includes a provision for enterprise mobility customers with the imminent release of the follow-on from Windows Mobile.
In a video message at an event for Motorola’s ES400 handset last month, Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer said to waiting journalists that the new enhanced platform, based on Windows Mobile 6.5, will be available in around six months’ time. A second version, which will utilise the more consumer-focused Windows 7 technologies, should be expected in the latter half of next year.
Ballmer explained:
“We are also working to provide a clear path for enterprises to migrate line-of-business applications to our new application platform based on Microsoft Silverlight and Visual Studio 2010.
“These releases will provide proven management and security functionality, while giving customers confidence that investments in handheld enterprise devices and line-of-business applications will be protected over time by an extended support lifecycle.”
This news should appease the company’s many loyal enterprise mobility customers and the fact that the Windows Embedded team is “focused on extending Windows and the benefits of cloud computing to the world of specialised devices”, should help to allay any fears they may have had prior to this announcement that support for the platform was not forthcoming.