Windows Phone 7, Smartphones/Tablets


Windows Phone Marketing GM Out After 5 Months (UPDATED)

Gavin Kim, a former Samsung vice president who joined Microsoft in November as general manager of Windows Phone Product Marketing, left the company last week.

Report: 'Wintel' PCs To Lose Ground in Mobile-Device Era

Shipments of Wintel PCs will experience a marked slowdown through 2016, according to the latest research projections by IDC.

Windows 8 Tablets To Feature Display Improvements

Some upcoming Windows 8 tablets will feature screen displays that are near Apple iPad quality, Microsoft said last week in a "Building Windows 8" blog post.

First Windows Phone Goes on Sale in China

Microsoft marked its entrance into the Chinese smartphone market this week by unveiling a new device from HTC running Windows Phone 7.5 "Tango."

Report: Windows 8 To RTM in Summer, Hit Stores in October

Devices running Windows 8 will become available in October, with a partner-focused event taking place in early April, according to a Bloomberg report published Tuesday.

Gartner: 'Personal Cloud' To Supplant PCs by 2014

The PC will no longer be the primary digital device for most users by 2014, according to a new report from research firm Gartner.

Microsoft Shuttering Windows Mobile Marketplace in May

Windows Mobile Marketplace, the online app store for Microsoft's aging Windows Mobile smartphone OS, will be shut down in two months.

Windows Embedded Standard 8 CTP Released

Microsoft this week launched a community test preview (CTP) of Windows Embedded Standard 8, which is based on the forthcoming Windows 8 operating system.

Apple Unveils 4G iPad, Updates Apple TV

Apple took the wraps off its third-generation iPad during a debut event on Wednesday.

Microsoft Exec: Windows Phone Must Be a 'Great Consumer Phone First'

Windows Phone's biggest challenge is insufficient consumer awareness, a Microsoft executive said at Mobile World Congress, which took place this week in Barcelona.

Microsoft-Yahoo, Microsoft-Nokia: Will They Ever Pay Off?

Microsoft is currently paired with some big partners, with big risks. With Yahoo in the midst of an executive upheaval and Windows Phone still trailing badly in the smartphone race, can these partnerships yield the results Microsoft is looking for?

Apple in the Enterprise: Microsoft Partners Help Apple Get Down to Business

Use of iPads, iPhones and Macs by businesses is going through the roof. Despite a history of courting consumers, Apple has a growing need for partners who can integrate the company's hardware with Microsoft software and networks.

Microsoft, Good Technology Put E-Mail Encryption on Windows Phone

Microsoft has entered a deal with enterprise mobile management and security firm Good Technology to bring encrypted e-mail to Windows Phone.

Skype App for Windows Phone Released to Beta

Microsoft's $8.5 billion acquisition of VoIP giant Skype is bearing fruit: A beta of the Skype app for Windows Phone is now available for download.

Microsoft Aims Windows Phone at Low-End Smartphone Market

Microsoft is expanding Windows Phone's language and hardware support in an effort to extend the platform's availability to developing markets, the company announced Monday at the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona.

Microsoft Readies Dynamics CRM Mobile

Richer mobile apps and Apple tablet support give Microsoft a better parity case against Salesforce.com on an important user requirement.

Microsoft: Motorola's Patent Abuse Will 'Kill Video on the Web'

Microsoft complained to the European Commission on Wednesday about standard-essential patents licensing terms set by Motorola Mobility, even as Google is getting ready to acquire that company.

Microsoft, Apple, Google Pledge Transparency on Privacy Policies

Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Google, Research In Motion and Hewlett-Packard this week formally agreed to require transparency from app developers regarding their products' privacy policies.

Court Lets Microsoft Use 'Hard Bargaining' Tactics Against Android

The initial determination issued by a U.S. International Trade Commission court earlier this month that concluded Microsoft did not engage in "patent misuse" in its legal dispute against Barnes & Noble has been made partially available to the public.

Google-Motorola Mobility Deal Gets U.S., EU Approval

Google's planned acquisition of Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. for $12.5 billion was approved by both the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission on Monday.