Tag Archives: mobile phones

Microsoft’s mobile reboot

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Critics, analysts and carriers have all lauded Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7, the company’s latest attempt to reclaim ground in the mobile space. But in a field increasingly dominated by Apple and Android, the biggest name in personal computing is still far from a major player.

Opening day sales figures for the phone line were anemic, coming in at a reported 40,000, despite a lavish marketing campaign and worldwide media events. (To put that in perspective, Apple sells roughly 270,000 iPhones per day.) But the early numbers don’t necessarily tell the full story.

Read more at Daily Variety

 

The Money Making Game #2: The PlayStation Phone

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We certainly have no problem getting caught up in the fun of playing games, but the people who create them have their pocketbooks to worry about, too. In this column, finance expert and GameSpy contributor Chris Morris guides you through the tricky corridors the gaming industry’s financial side, touching on big-time business decisions and how they matter to the common gamer.

While the Internet has been buzzing about leaked images and details of what seems to be a prototype PlayStation Phone from Sony Ericsson, the debate has generally circled around whether the leaks were real or faked. The question no one seems to be asking is: Is this a good idea in the first place?

Just for the sake of argument, let’s assume Sony is, in fact, working on a PlayStation Phone. The company, after all, hasn’t done much to quell the rumors, with CFO Masato Kato stirring the embers during a quarterly results conference call earlier this month when he said “The PSP … was more concentrated I’d say [at the] core gaming segment rather than the light game, but now we are addressing that market as well.”

Read more at GameSpy.com

Microsoft ties Windows Phone 7 to Xbox Live

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As Microsoft has leaked out details of its upcoming Windows Phone 7 series, it has been pretty obviouthat the company planned to borrow heavily from its successful Xbox Live formula. Now it’s sharing more details – and it’s looking a lot more like a semi-complete integration of the service, rather than just a few elements.

The new phones will launch with Xbox Live integration, letting owners stay connected with their gaming friends when they’re away from their consoles. They’ll also be able to access leaderboards, turn-based multiplayer games, Achievements and more.

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog