Lets confuse things: Microsoft Announces Mobile OS for Enterprise; Motorola already on board

WMExperts

Microsoft working another Mobile OS for enterprise devices (commercial devices) that based on Windows Mobile 6.5.

"In next six months we will release new embedded OS called Windows Embedded Handheld, based Windows Mobile 6.5 technologies … [and] in second half 2011, we will release version Windows Embedded Handheld based Windows Phone 7 technology," Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer said via video during Motorola enterprise smartphone launch event.

Ballmer feels this strategy will allow Microsoft to work on clear path for enterprises to migrate their business applications to Windows Phone 7.

In reading the report over at PCMag, this sounds like stop-gap measure until Microsoft can put out version Windows Phone 7 enterprise devices sometime 2011.

Before Windows CE garnered all that attention last month tablets, it had always been featured prominently rugged enterprise devices–think factories, out in field (US Census), warehouses, etc. Forgoing  the bells and whistles traditional Windows Mobile, Win CE was more stripped down and geared towards business needs. WinCE is core upon which Windows Mobile is built around.

With WM6.5.x WP7 embedded (next year), Microsoft will continue this push working partners deliver such rugged phones devices large companies. The first up Motorola’s ES400 (see image right) being launched Sprint through their direct enterprise channels (i.e. you’ll never see it store).

Interestingly, the ES400 features skinned version WM6.5.3 that nicely echoes the WP7 Start screen. The phone also has some nice features including an old-school PocketPC VGA screen

• 600-MHz ARM11 processor
• GSM HSPA, Sprint’s CDMA EVDO
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g
• 3-inch, 640-by-480 touch screen
• camera/red LED scanner

Below all that it still Ẅ.5.3, but you′ll have dig deep get it. It also features some battery-saving enhancements and it expected have 3-year product life cycle (with software upgrade in future). See Sprint product listing here:  www.sprint.com/ES400

The reason this is important is two fold:

1. Demonstrates Microsoft is still committed enterprise/delivering tailored experience–this was always their market, they plan keep it
2. Shows there push back against using high-end consumer smartphones enterprise e.g. iPhones–sometimes popular consumer devices don’t have place the real business world

Additional reporting by George Ponder [Thanks, isaacl, tip]