Microsoft prepares to compete with Apple iPhone

Zune PhoneMonday Microsoft announced that it's going to buy Danger Inc. out of Palo Alto, California. Danger is known for designing a line of youth oriented mobile communications devices called Sidekick and Hiptop.

Zune Phone alert!

Microsoft says it wants to leave hardware to its partners and only build software. But from time to time the company likes to roll up its sleeves and do the hardware dirty work itself. Take Zune for example.

Now it looks like Microsoft will chase Apple's illusive je-ne-sais-quoi over to the mobile phones market.

Danger Inc brings street-cred to mobile devices having designed Paris Hilton's favorite mobile gaming - phone Sidekick. Danger designs devices to run its own Java based operating system and has other companies build the devices.

Microsoft probably doesn't want Danger for its java platform, so it's probably looking for an injection of hip into some upcoming Windows Mobile devices.

Slap a few games on it and include an "OMG" button - the kids'll love it!

It's too bad for Microsoft that the founders of Danger have already abandoned the company to work on Google's Android platform. According to iLounge (Apple propaganda) the founders of Danger left for to form Android just as Danger (in iLounge's opinion) stopped innovating with its latest Sidekick designs.

Will Microsoft pose a threat to Apple's iPhone?

Not if Zune is any indication. But between Google working on an open G-phone platform called Android and Microsoft working on a Windows Sidekick you should expect some interesting mobile devices in another year.

Rate This Post

Bookmark This Post

• < previous
• next >