While we expect to learn more about Windows Mobile 7 at the upcoming MWC, a new rumour suggests that the final announcement could take place much later than is now anticipated. According to Brightsideofnews.com, Windows Mobile 7’s release has been postponed to 2011.
We spoke with representatives from Microsoft, Lenovo, Qualcomm, TI, Nokia, nVidia, HTC and many more and they all had just one message – Windows Mobile 7 is delayed until 2011.
As Brightsideofnews.com points out, such a delay would surely play havoc with manufacturers’ device roadmaps. For example, LG expects to release Windows Mobile 7 devices later this year. They may be forced to drop or retool some upcoming devices. They would also look to alternative operating systems and adopt or further embrace other mobile operating systems such as Google Android. And should that happen, would they even come back to Windows Mobile later? In the end, Microsoft’s inability to keep up with, let alone out-innovate its competitors, could force it out of the mobile operating system business.
For now, I’ll take this rumour with a large grain of salt (or many of them) and see what develops during MWC 2010.