Windows Phone 7 will not be free for carriers
Now here is something that may be disturbing for carriers using Windows Mobile on their devices for years. Windows Phone 7 is not free. The new OS that will be existing alongside the Windows Mobile 6 or the Windows Phone Classic, may be pondered upon by the carriers before they go for it.
Charging license fee for Windows Phone 7 from the carriers implies more expensive devices for the consumers. Although it is agreed that there is a marked increase in the way the Windows phone OS works, the extra fee is a big no.
Seeing the competitors’ strategies( like Google Android), this move by Microsoft if actually imposed may cause some agitation among the carriers. Business Insider does some calculations about how much it could effect MS.
Have a look at what Ballmer has to say:
"We build something, we sell that thing." He added, "I think it’s not only in our best interests, but it’s … a simple model that’s easy for developers, handset manufacturers, and our operator partners to deal with, to understand, and to build from."
Some might see this as a desperate attempt to claw back the revenue they’ve lost to new iphone customers; others as an unexplored avenue from which to make some quick cash.
Has any version of Windows ever been free? Heck is wrong with people?
Google makes a ton of money off ad revenue, and they charge for their apps (Gmail, GTalk, etc). Microsoft is not an ad company, they’re a software company. They provide unparalleled support to OEM partners (not ‘carriers’ by the way) who license the OS.
Not sure how I ended up on this blog but if the first article I see is parroting the inane view of a misguided ‘analyst’, then I guess I’m not sticking around
Every version of windows ce, windows mobile etc. Has come with a genuine Microsoft license. I can’t imagine that they were ever giving this away for free. Maybe the article meant to point out that pricing structure was going to change?