Microsoft unveils Stinger software

Microsoft launched its attack on the mobile market by unveiling its new 'smart' mobile phone software codenamed Stinger.

Microsoft launched its attack on the mobile market by unveiling its new 'smart' mobile phone software codenamed Stinger.

The company has been working on the software for the past two years, and last week unveiled its vision to more than 200 mobile phone company executives.

In conjunction with Samsung Electronics, Microsoft is expecting to deliver the Stinger-based phones to market next year.

The software giant claimed that the smart phone will be "bigger than a feature phone, smaller than a pocket PC", and will provide a "mix of online and offline applications to keep customers connected to their time-critical information any time, any place".

Dilip Mistry, mobility marketing manager for Microsoft Europe, Middle East & Africa, said: "We are talking about the proper internet, not just the poor man's version most Wap phone owners use at the moment."

"Our software is the most advanced thing to be seen in public," he added. "We will be the first to launch the phone next year. We have demonstrated a real telephone with real software. It is high time other companies started producing real products."

Mistry said that the software will provide opportunities for resellers, and that the company is already receiving positive feedback from its reseller community.

"With this new software, resellers will be able to help customers integrate their workforce's mobile phones with their existing systems," he claimed.

But Paul Cockerton, head of corporate marketing at Symbian, said: "We have [already] shipped our first smart phone - the Ericsson R380 - so I do not understand what [Microsoft] is going on about. Its claims are unfounded."

First published in Computer Reseller News