Full FeedMicrosoft could be launching phone and buying major tech company
Two bits of seemingly disjointed info coming out of Redmond may or may not have anything to do with each other. The first: Microsoft is issuing bonds; the second is a tweet telling us to hold off buying Pre/iPhone just yet. These two bits of info seem disconnected right?
Analysts believe Microsoft will buy back stock with the funds raised by the bond sale. This the first time in the company’s history that Microsoft has issued bonds. Microsoft is trading on its cash-rich position and good credit standing.
The other news is a tweet from an Office2010 Twitter account telling us that something big is coming down the line. It boggles the mind a bit to think that that Windows Mobile could put together a competitive offering that would stand with the iPhone or even the Pre.
Regardless, we are told to hold off on the purchase. Analysts believe this tweet to refer to big HTC models running Windows Mobile 6.5 that were shown off in Barcelona earlier this year.
My take: MS is readying a buy of Palm. The crew in Redmond need something to stand against the iPhone and the Pre is the best shot at it. HTC has made a couple of runs at it but continues to come up short. Nokia is moving into the states with zest and brings along some Symbian love. MS needs a winner on the WinMo platform or adopt its platform to something else. I believe webOS is that something else. Simple, easy to integrate and available (within the next month, right Palm?).
So that’s my guess. What is yours? Let us know in the comments.
Source: [Wall Street Journal]
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My take is that this is just another wild speculation from a journalist that should know better than spread rumors. There is way too much of this on the net already. I’d really like to get hard facts instead.
The twitter account is already exposed as a fake.
As for MS taking over Palm… Anything is a possibility, but can you imagine the bad PR? It would be MS admitting that their Windows Mobile OS is an inferior product to WebOS. There is also too much overlap in resources in this area between the two companies so any merger/buyout would create internal mayhem.
on May 13, 2009 at 08:50 AM - LINKGG, Some fair points.
I prefaced my take with “my take:”. It is not a rumor. Speculation, yes. I would debate that I “should know better…”.
MS is aware of its inferior product but chooses to ignore it. And that frustrates the heck out of me.
Most merger/buyouts create internal mayhem. The buy would be about grabbing something that looks to be a rising star with both hands. Does anyone really believe something special is coming from MS in WinMo 7? I’ve stopped believing that.
And yes, the twitter acct was fake.
on May 13, 2009 at 09:21 AM - LINKThanks for the reply… This is a much better position than the original. I stand corrected and agree that I might have over-reacted. Probably due to the recent sloppy “news” reporting on the smartphone and ebook fronts that’s got my dander up.
I’m not a fan of MS. My machines that run Windows are dwindling. That said, I believe that MS has the ability to produce superior products if they would just stop and think. They have put together an incredible collection of brainpower and cash. Working for various research firms, I’ve seen them grab the cream of the crop over the years. I see the main issue to be their obsession with control rather than innovation. Every now and then I see some real genius pop out among the crud.
Then again, I’m not a big fan of Palm because they squandered away a lot of good will and opportunity over the years. However, the Pre has definitely peaked my interest and actually matches my concept of what is important to be in a smart phone. MS should take a lesson from this since it was a very bold step for Palm to abandon the PalmOS for a new concept. On one hand, Palm admits that they didn’t have the ability to deliver the promised fixes to PalmOS. On the other hand, admitting it allowed them to move beyond it.
If nothing else, Apple has spurred the smartphone industry into action and I love the recent innovations. I guess I’ll just have to wade through the rumors and speculation until the dust settles. It makes for exciting and frustrating times.
on May 13, 2009 at 10:26 AM - LINKGG, appreciate the reply. Too often comments are drive bys…
I think your views are held by many regarding MS and Palm. I know I share them anyway.
I’ll be here wading through the rumors and speculation with you. Thanks again for the comments.
on May 13, 2009 at 12:22 PM - LINKmay be since Microsoft has already involved in IT hardware so I think that there should not be any problem regarding this.. It will be better to take part in mobile technology.. i am very happy if Microsoft takes part in this popular area…
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