Sprint desires Windows Mobile 7; brings 6.5 for Touch 2 next year

Sprint’s executive David Owens speaks about Windows and  Android platforms and what future they hold with respect to Sprint. Sprint seems inquisitive about Windows Mobile 7 and looks more optimistic with Android. Have a look:

About Windows Mobile 7

They want Windows Mobile 7 "as soon as possible, but dependent on Microsoft.”

About WM 6.5 ROM upgrade for HTC Touch 2

They’re testing Windows Mobile 6.5 updates for the HTC Touch Pro2 and other Windows phones; "plan for early 2010."

About Touch 2 availability

“Channel decision for now.  Available in direct channels today.”

Data plans

No tethering for phones that require Everything plans (such as all smartphones) from here on out.

Read more here.

Just ‘YOU’ campaign by HTC: A people-oriented style

For HTC, the campaign strategy is quite simplified- its all about ‘you.’ If you don’t get that, check out the latest HTC Ads. HTC seems pretty attached to this kind of promotion.

So, are the ads some kind of a reaction to its popular competitors like iPhone and Android. Have a glimpse at the videos below and the press release following that.

Here’s the press release:

TAOYUAN, Taiwan – October 26, 2009 – HTC Corporation, a global smartphone designer, today unveiled a global advertising campaign that is based on HTC’s new Quietly Brilliant brand positioning.  As HTC’s first global advertising campaign, the YOU campaign is being rolled out across 20 countries in the coming weeks and features the tagline, ‘You don’t need to get a phone. You need a phone that gets you.’  This represents HTC’s commitment to focus on people, their needs and how they work and live to ensure that HTC devices suit them.

"Quietly brilliant is doing great things in a humble way, with the belief that the best things in life can only be experienced, not explained," said John Wang, chief marketing officer, HTC Corporation. "The YOU campaign is the perfect embodiment of ‘quietly brilliant’ and is core to HTC as a company, innovator and partner."

The YOU campaign is focused on driving broad, global visibility and understanding of HTC’s unique brand promise – that it’s all about YOU, the consumer, and in fact not the device. HTC worked with Los Angeles-based advertising agency, Deutsch LA Inc. to create the YOU campaign that will employ an integrated-media approach to reach consumers via television, print, outdoor and online.  HTC’s design expertise will be echoed throughout the campaign, with commercial spots highlighting the unique functionality of HTC smartphones.

"We’ve come to have a very emotional relationship with our phones. Many of our key experiences in any given day come through this one device and yet most of the advertising in the category is still about utility," says Eric Hirshberg, co-CEO and chief creative officer, Deutsch LA. "HTC’s whole design philosophy is very personal. They make phones where your experience is completely unique, so we think there is a connection between how people feel about their phones and how HTC makes them."

HTC worked with London-based creative consultancy, FigTree to create the quietly brilliant brand positioning. The ‘quietly brilliant’ positioning was inspired by HTC’s culture of putting customers first, born from a heritage of creating breakthrough products and continued innovation. As part of HTC’s culture, the "quietly brilliant" positioning will be rolled out in all forms of communication and brand touch points across the company.

"Some of life’s most brilliant ideas started with a simple doodle on the back of a napkin," said Simon Myers, CEO of Figtree. "HTC’s new look uses this visual language of doodles to explain all the quietly brilliant features and benefits of HTC devices in a simple and human way."

LG’s in a LoveGame for Windows Phones, announces OCT 6 as release date for LG GM750

Now it’s time that people learn that Android is not the only one that’s currently tempting many companies. It’s a Windows Phones gala time. Now the news is that LG is going to invest a nice amount of money on Windows Mobiles, featuring in about 13 new handsets, inclusive of some already released.

Some of the smartphones expected in these 13 phones are LG GW600 aka LG HQ(featuring SuureType-like keyboard), LG GWW50(similar to S60 Nokia E71) and another that will be competing against Omnia and HTC touch Pro 2.

The Vodaphone elusive LG GM750 is set to release on Oct 6 in Europe that coincides with the launch of Windows Mobile 6.5. Some of the specs include- in-built GPS, 3-inch touchscreen, Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync e-mail, faster browsing, etc. It will initially release in Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and the UK. France and other countries will see the unveil later.

Todd Peters, corporate vice president of Microsoft Corp. says, “This new Windows phone benefits from our work with LG to deeply integrate the phone’s software and hardware as well as our continued work with Vodafone to make Windows phones broadly available on Vodafone’s high-speed network.”

Let’s see the MS, LG and Vodaphone venture works well or not.

Curiousness gets a relief : WinMo 6.5, Marketplace, MyPhone get an official release date, OCT 6

Yes, it’s here ‘finally.’ Now the news comes from the folks at the MS that Oct 6 will witness the unveil of the much awaited Operating System Windows Mobile 6.5. That’s not all the Windows Mobile Marketplace, yes the one that invited devs in the Race to Market Challenge will be present too. Another unveils include Microsoft MyPhone, a freeware service.

After a number of leaked builds, the official release seems quite tempting. So, a worldwide launch of handsets at the retail stores with the new OS is expected to be bookmarked on this very day(a freeware can be speculated for some smartphones.) If that was not enough, the news is that carriers like Sprint, Verizon Wireless and AT&T are to jump in as well.

Some ingredients are listed here:

• The updated IE browser that’s inclusive of a built-in Adobe Flash Lite support and allows easy access to third-party applications such as Facebook, Netflix and Zagat
• Windows Mobile Marketplace allowing you direct download of tested and authenticated apps
• MyPhone freeware including ‘Find my Phone’ feature
• A finger friendly touchscreen that allows you to customize keyboards and widgets

Todd Peters , MS corporate vice president of mobile communications marketing went on to say: "A Windows phone gives people a single phone that works for their whole life, keeping them connected to the people and information they care most about by harnessing the power of the PC, phone and Web."

With a ‘not so good’ financial position and stiff competition from every corner of the world, a powerful growth strategy is a must. Let’s see whether the official 6.5 version goes well with the masses or remains just a temporary craze. Read the official announcement here.

Sending Mass SMSs made easy: A new messaging software is here

Sending invitations or reminders or may be advertisements- looks quite cumbersome. But now an app is here to make it look like a child’s play. The Pocket PC to Mobile Text Messaging app allows you to send unlimited messages to a person or persons.

The advantage is that the laborious activity gets a break.The app is available for your PDA Mobile Phones or Pocket PCs and can transmit messages to other mobile phones. One of the key features is its adaptability to mobile networks of national and international origin. Supporting various OS and smartphones as well, this is a must try. Look for more info here.