There have been numerous unconfirmed rumors that Microsoft Windows Mobile 7 would be available next year, and company CEO Steve Ballmer officially confirmed the news during a recent conference call.
Despite Microsoft recently showing off Windows Mobile 6.5 during the Mobile World Conference in Spain last week, many observers are wondering if the OS is already dead. Windows Mobile 6.5 is slated to ship later this year -- and with Windows Mobile 7 to be released next year -- there won't be much time for manufacturers to utilize 6.5 before upgrading to Windows Mobile 7.
It's possible Microsoft is using two major software releases in such a short time as a strategic move to attack Android and other competing software.
The growing smartphone market has been a feeding frenzy among software developers, with Microsoft serving as one of the prominent companies working in the market. The software giant plans to market its OS towards low-end mobile phones and smartphones, competing with Google's Android OS.
Even though Microsoft is moving forward with a new mobile OS, it does not have any plans to release its own mobile phone, the company has said again.
"The consumer market mojo is with Apple and to a lesser extent with [Research in Motion's] BlackBerry," Ballmer said during the conference call. "It is not our strategy to build our own phone. It's our strategy to build software that can stretch across many devices."
