Microsoft Pays $44 Million To Samsung and Nokia For Mango Marketing 147
CSHARP123 writes "Ballmer opened up the company's coffers to Nokia and Samsung for a holiday blitz of Mango marketing. Hold onto your hats though, it's no carte blanche access to Redmond's Gringotts. According to a report on Mobile Magazine, inside sources claim MS has set aside £28 million (about $44 million) for the endeavor, with about £20 million of that reserved for Nokia's first Windows Phone 7.5 handset. This joint marketing effort is reportedly a broader extension of the cooperative agreements all parties agreed to, ensuring future WP devices get the media saturation they deserve. Samsung is also due to unveil a major Christmas ad push for the Omnia W with an estimated £8m spend. Maybe this is what Samsung gets for making a deal on patents to cover Android OS? Not a bad deal for Samsung."
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I'll get off your lawn now.
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- Wifi works fine, though it switches off when you lock the phone. No you cant change this.
Getting pics off the phone is done by syncing with Zune via USB or over wifi. Bluetooth file transfers are not supported in the OS, so forget BT.
My girlfriend can us
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I have a question...has anyone here actually USED a Windows 7 phone? How does it stack up against Android?
Most people here wouldn't admit to using anything from Microsoft more recent than Windows 98.
Mango? (Score:2)
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I heard the gingers are trying to recruit as well. They are using slideshows, children's books and red-head radio talk shows to try and convince us they aren't evil. I thought my will was strong, but the other day I hesitated in front of a bottle of red hair dye in the supermarket.
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Apparently the ? step for the underpants gnomes was to start a bank.
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Apparently the ? step for the underpants gnomes was to start a bank.
It worked for the Gnomes of Zurich.
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So you're saying that Microsoft has selling versions of Windows for smartphones since 2002, and you're hoping that maybe by next year they'll finally make a version that is good enough for you to buy?
I hope Microsoft doesn't pay you to shill for them. They're wasting their money.
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Nokia isn't a newbie. They have a history of making the best mobile devices on the planet, hardware wise. They suck with software. Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 is actually great OS to new phones. Combined with Nokia's experience with hardware and their history in mobile
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Agree with last point (Score:2)
But I think the whole Nokia+MS partnership was great idea for two companies that weren't doing good, both in the different areas of the industry. They basically combined their good sides to let go off their bad sides.
I've been saying the same thing - it's not popular or well-understood here, but if you think long term Microsoft stands a very good chance to make a comeback in a way it would not have without Nokia. Nokia + MS is as close as MS can get to Apple-level tailored hardware for WP7.
And that growth
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And that growth will come mostly at the expense of Android, so it will be a very interesting year ahead...
Keep dreaming.
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Keep dreaming.
Why would I dream of this? I don't care one way or the other as I don't yet develop for Android or WP7.
I'm just telling you what will happen. You can choose to live in ignorance as so many do, or really start thinking about future implications of events.
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I'm just telling you what will happen.
Don't bogart that crystal ball, my friend. What? You don't actually have one? You're talking out of your ass? Well, just, damn.
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Don't bogart that crystal ball, my friend. What? You don't actually have one?
Some things you do not need a crystal ball to see. the fact that you cannot means either you are technically dull (unlikely on Slashdot) or willfully blind (very likely on Slashdot).
Only you can choose to see or to keep on the blinders you applied yourself.
As a technical person you are really better off when you can correctly judge future trends. Skate to where the puck will be, and all that.
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Do you have any particular stock picks so I'll know who to short?
AAPL. Go ahead and short it, after all if your assessment (which ignores the entire history of the computer industry) is correct you can't go wrong.
We'll see what happens. In a year even you should be able to see what is happening.
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Nokia isn't a newbie. They have a history of making the best mobile devices on the planet, hardware wise. They suck with software. Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 is actually great OS to new phones. Combined with Nokia's experience with hardware and their history in mobile technology, I think they will actually go far.
I really don't know where this story has come from. Nokia's hardware has almost always been second rate. Never bad, but never nearly the best (original 2110, 6310i as possible exceptions, but even then there were always models which were arguably better). What Nokia phone's had was good usability (that means software). They were the first ones that you could send a decent SMS with. Ones where sending an MMS became really easy. The menu was always intuitive compared to the other mobile phones. What No
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I had a windows mobile 6.5 phone, a Samsung intrepid. Ungodly piece of shit it was. Yeah, it worked pretty cool when I got it but the lack of updates, fixes, new bugs introduced in the one update it ever got, and utter lack of ease of use made it a huge loser for me. Using that thing was like trying to use a laptop for a phone. No ease of use, no polish, no intuitiveness anywhere.
My Evo 3d is about a thousand times better, if not more.
I will never, never, never, but a windows phone again.
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Windows Phone 7 is a completely different beast from WM. MS just released the major 'Mango' update for all Windows phones. The UI is also so completely different from WM that you'll wonder if they were even made by the same company.
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He's right on message with their marketing for the delayed Mango. Earlier articles that (I think) I saw on /. carried the same line: "Ok, really, this is the version that is going to fix all the problems and make it awesome."
I see the future of WP7... it looks like WebOS...
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He's right on message with their marketing for the delayed Mango. Earlier articles that (I think) I saw on /. carried the same line: "Ok, really, this is the version that is going to fix all the problems and make it awesome."
Where's the news? That is what Microsoft has been telling people since Win 3.1.
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So you're saying that Microsoft has selling versions of Windows for smartphones since 2002, and you're hoping that maybe by next year they'll finally make a version that is good enough for you to buy?
They've been selling desktop operating systems since the early '80s, but Windows 2000 was the first one that I didn't hate. Then they had a small step backwards with XP, apparently a larger one backwards with Vista, and then 7 is good again (I've not used Vista or 7, I'm just going by my father's opinion there).
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DOS 5 wasn't bad. :) Especially if you replaced the shell with 4dos.
Win2k was the best version of Windows ever. That's a fairly low bar, but there you have it.
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Sorry, what? What "software side from Microsoft"? The N9 is a Maemo/Meego phone, which is not developed by Microsoft, but by Nokia and Intel.
I agree that the N9 seems a great device, that's why I'm saddened by the fact that they've given up on that product line and decided to go with MS' operating system.
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Last week I got to play with a Windows phone for the first time. It had a START button that filled the screen with program names. I clicked around until I got a cryptic error about a device driver.
Why would anyone ever want that on a phone?
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Unfortunately I had the very same experience. Yesterday I walked down to the local T-Punkt here in Germany. They had many Androids on display. Checked out the Galaxy S2: beautiful! Disclaimer: I use an iPhone.
I noticed only three phones on display running WP7. Probably not Mango yet. The one with the biggest display was a HTC (I think) and I checked it out. But for not too long: Every other application displayed a cryptic error code. Something like 80070057. Is this some nostalgia for COM developers? Did no
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WTF is it with the above comment suggesting you look at a linux phone to see how good the next MS Windows phone is going to be? Do you really think there are drivers for MS Windows Phone 7.1 for the devices in that phone? I'll bet the next Nokia phone with MS Windows on it will have very different hardware because it's still too far off for them to announce it.
It's an OS playing catchup so I really have to question the motives of
Isn't the N9 a Meego phone? (Score:2, Informative)
Since when was Meego [wikimedia.org] a Microsoft product? Last time I checked Nokia N9 [wikimedia.org] is the first, and probably, one of the last Meego handsets.
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Windows Phone 7.1 and later. And if you have looked at N9 from Nokia, you'd be ignorant to notice how great it is.
I have an N9. It is the most beautiful phone I've ever seen and much of the software is great.
But it isn't running Mango. It's running Meego-Harmattan.
(The Mango phone will probably look very similar, so it'll be physically impressive, but the software won't be the same.)
Launch Marketing for Windows Phone: $400M (Score:3)
There were concerts, ads, product placements on popular TV shows, purchased "Likes" on Facebook and followers on Twitter - and of course astroturfers to beat all previous levels of astroturfing, including here in these comments by folk who've done no else but astoturf by their comment record. Ad placements on all prominent online venues ensured adoring reviews on those same sites. At best estimate they moved 2M phones, so the cost of marketing is more than the build cost of the equipment - which is not th
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Some educational information on how to find mangos:
http://www.weebls-stuff.com/songs/mango/ [weebls-stuff.com]
(Careful: It's quite hard to get it out of your head afterwards, and sometimes I even find myself clicking the link again *shiver*)
A Million Each! (Score:2, Funny)
That's like a spam come true!
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Do they finally support native languages or Java there? Anybody?
Native code is not supported.
It might be possible to get Java to run with IKVM, I don't know. In terms of features, CLR is a strict superset of JVM, so it's always possible to convert Java bytecode to CIL; the question is the libraries. I don't think anybody tried though - why would they?
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Except for being effectively exclusive to Microsoft platforms. Mono is barely compatible with .NET, definitely not enough that you can take a binary targeting .NET 3.5 and run it on Linux (which is exactly how Microsoft wanted Java.)
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That aside... I don't trust MS to keep supporting their phone platform infrastructure yet. It's outside their core s
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And to achieve this cross platform capability, how much did they have to give up in the Microsoft .NET libraries? Mono will forever be chasing .NET.
Which, obviously, defeats the purpose of Java.
Something tells me they're going to do with this that they did with the xbox: burn mone
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> Something tells me they're going to do with this that they did with the xbox: burn money until it takes hold. MS absolutely doesn't want to be pushed completely out of the smartphone space, which is a primary driver for them attacking Android.
If Microsoft had any faith in their ability to make great products, they would have been one of the first to jump on Android and made a must-have Android phone that kicks the iPhones arse. It would have included all kinds of proprietary Microsoft secret sauce that
Re:A Million Each! (Score:5, Insightful)
Microsoft never could have done this, as they have set themselves up as an insular platform vendor that not use outside technologies unless forced to. They absolutely would not release something with their name on it that ran something developed by Google, much less Linux.
Rather, they have placed a new UI on the Windows CE core and added all the proprietary goop you asked for. MS is doing exactly what you suggested, but doubling down on the FUD to try and drive other vendors off the platform of a competitor and on to theirs.
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That M$ is giving Samsung money for what seems like nothing likely has more to do with them charging Samsung to use Android ie a quick 'mea culpa' and please don't do to use what you are going to do to Apple.
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Let me fix that last paragraph for you:
But instead, Microsoft realized they could do better than the "me-too" Google phones. Instead of coming up with another boring cluttered smart-phone to compete with everyone re-packaging Android, they hunkered down and proved themselves the more creative company. They came up with a clean new interface and worked tirelessly on building a solid base platform which could easily go head-to-head with anything available. They are trying to win by helping with advertising
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Disclaimer: I do work for Microsoft
Yeah, we can tell.
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So, Mr. "I've been registered with the Linux Counter for 14 months, I'm so l33t"... I know it's made by the company everyone loves to hate, but have you actually tried out a Mango phone?
-- Linux user # 292874 (Believe it or not, it's possible for someone to like and use more than one OS.)
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For anyone who hasn't used Mango, it's an incredibly stable feature-rich platform which deserves a look.
I have an HD7. It is a piece of shit and sits in my drawer at home. My Samsung Vibrant with Cyanogenmod walks all over it in functionality as well as aesthetics. Wake me up when Windows Phone Vista supports ad-hoc networking so I don't have to put my sim in it everytime I want to use that piece of shit. Also, nudge me when it supports text reflow when I zoom in with the browser. What a piece of trash.
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So it's a 'piece of shit' because it doesn't support adhoc networking?
That's one reason. Another reason is the constant need to orientate it between horizontal and vertical to enter in a url. Also, the shit performance of third party app scrolling. And on and on.
That's not the OS,
No, it's the browser that comes with the OS. Which is a piece of shit.
And the same as the fact that the Android browser's horrible implementation of text reflow that clips inline images and doesn't resize them is not the fault of Android itself.
So, Android reflows and IE on wp7 doesn't. Thank you for verifying how shit your precious is.
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No, you tool. I was countering the point about .NET and Java. Things locked to one vendors platforms are hardly "superior."
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Explain how it is different from Apple's walled garden?
Oh I know about Chevron WP7, it just legitimizes the jail.
Microsoft strategy (Score:5, Insightful)
Step 1. Collect patent royalties from every Android device that Samsung sells
Step 2. Turn around and give that money back to Samsung to push Windows Phone 7
Step 3. ???
Step 4. Profit
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SOP for Microsoft and what they call competing. They did it back in the DOS days, they did it in the Netscape days, they'll be continue to do it as long as they've got the profits from Windows streaming in to afford
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If you want your hottest new phone OS to seem like a half-measure, make sure it labelled 0.5 behind than your current OS.
Do you think that Windows Phone 8 exists yet? They're naming it 7.5 to AVOID naming it Windows Phone 8.
Giving Samsung its Android money back (Score:2)
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Matradee? Why would someone want to bribe a sea-mammal?
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"Matradee": A bullfighter who seats you at a restaurant.
When I think of Mango (Score:2)
I think of Mango on SNL [hulu.com]
Windows Phone 7 & Wi-Fi SSIDs (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Windows Phone 7 & Wi-Fi SSIDs (Score:5, Informative)
1. Not broadcasting SSID is a false sense of security. Anyone sniffing will see your SSID since it's not encrypted.
2. WP7.5 allows you to specify a SSID
Just a sad state of affairs. (Score:2)
1. Not broadcasting SSID is a false sense of security. Anyone sniffing will see your SSID since it's not encrypted.
Or you do not need to do that.
2. WP7.5 allows you to specify a SSID
A company that has been making smartphones with wifi longer than Apple, RIM, and Google put that feature in their latest update!
Mango doesn't seem bad but really Microsoft you have no excuse for not being the best out of the gate as this time. You are the worlds largest software company and have been in this market for a long ti
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essid_jack and similar tools will find out that SSID in a few seconds; it just has to deauth some client and let it reconnect, exposing the SSID in plain text. Not that that excuses the flaw in the phone, of course.
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Yes, but my neighbors' 12 year old doesn't know that....
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But he can't crack the WPA password either, so SSID hiding is useless. It's like putting a small wooden fence around a 40 feet reinforced concrete wall.
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It's more like putting your tent behind a duck blind, instead of a small wooden fence. If they don't realize it's there, they won't start scheming how to get in. With the resources available, they can get it, but they won't even try if they're not made aware it's there. Security through obscurity, has protected me and my property while living in a bad part of Miami for over 15 years.
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You do know that networks with the hidden SSID still broadcast tons of beacon frames, right? Many devices still show them.
And unlike a duck blind, hiding your SSID is dangerous to you if you configure your device(s) to connect automatically to it, since they'll constantly broadcast it and in a public space anyone can spoof a SSID using a laptop and MITM you.
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Of course many computers with built-in wi-fi, from Dell laptops to Android devices, have tools for easily disabling/powering off the wi-fi antenna. It's a physical switch on Dell Latitudes and an easy drop down from the notification bar on my Samsung Galaxy (and widgets are easy to get for other Android phones). Thus you can easily power down the wi-fi antenna and support chips when you're not using them. I do the same with the GPS unless I'm actually needing it for finding something.
It means longer batter
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Why would you disable SSID advertising?
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Why would you disable SSID advertising?
For me it's the fact that it keeps transmitting a "Hello World!" for no practical reason, guess I'm just old fashioned; I don't get a warm fuzzy feeling of safety because it's disabled, for that I have a ridiculously long and complicated password.
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There is a reason for transmitting a "Hello World!" from the AC powered AP: It results in less battery drain on the portable devices (phones, tablets, laptops) that want to connect to the AP. That is, it requires more effort (aka battery power) on the part of the portable device to find a hidden AP than to find a non-hidden AP.
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So how is their honeypot going to construct the PTK without knowing the PSK? Are they going to brute force the moderately long and randomly generated PSK in time for the handshake to not fail?
I never said I was relying on the unbroadcasted SSID to provide authentication or encryption. I just said that the version of Phone 7 I saw didn't seem to have any capability for connecting to a Wi-Fi AP that wasn't
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5) Hidden SSID Support in Windows Phone 7.5
Windows Phone 7.5 now supports hidden SSID, which is the ability to connect WP7.5 devices to a wireless network that is not broadcasting its SSID. But this new feature is dependent on the chipset and drivers of the device, he says, so it's not available on current WP7 devices. It could be available on new WP7.5 hardware in the future, though, according to Bryan
Bryan also notes that "[s]ome organizations use SSID so as not to broadcast their wireless network informa
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My Samsung Omnia 7 (one of the first WP7 phones) supports hidden SSIDs with 7.5, FWIW.
BFD (Score:2)
Microsoft spends O(billions) on advertising. $44M on a single product that needs help with traction sounds kind of light, actually.
fruit? (Score:2)
OFFS what is it about fruit? Mangos, Apples, Lemons...
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I'll be the first to buy a banana laptop once they are out.
Suggestion to Will It Blend guys: (Score:2)
Just what we need (Score:2)
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yep but .net devs are dumb. a qt and whatever dev can jump to it in few weeks. but if you have the silverlight is everything mindset.. then you can't jump anywhere.
the post is truthful.