Mobile working Toolkit

Microsoft makes waves at 3GSM

Staff ZDNet.co.uk

Published: 16 Feb 2005 15:35 GMT

As the world's mobile phone industry gathered for the annual 3GSM shindig, Microsoft's latest deals dominated conversations on the show floor and in the bars and hotels of Cannes.

Even before 3GSM had kicked off, Microsoft was making headlines with a deal with Flextronics to push a low-cost platform for feature phones running Windows Mobile. And it stole the show on Monday by smoking the peace pipe with Nokia. Windows Media 10 will now be installed on Nokia handsets, and the two firms will work together on future streaming media products and standards.

With Sony Ericsson vowing to launch mobile phones under the Walkmak brand, and Sendo revealing that its latest smartphone would be a music-centric device, it appeared that the music industry was focused on leaping on the iPod bandwagon.

Although Microsoft appeared to be one of this year's big winner at 3GSM, a familiar threat is coming over the horizon. A prototype Linux 3G phone was on display, sparking bullish talk about the future of embedded open source. Is Microsoft vs Linux set to break out in the mobile space?

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