Hasta La Gadget!

AllThingsD is reporting that Microsoft is replacing Andy Lees as head of its Windows Phone division… sort of. It looks like Terry Myerson, who has headed up engineering efforts for the group, will take over many of Lees’ responsibilities, though, he won’t be inheriting his title. At least not just yet. In a memo seen by AllThingsD, Ballmer announced that Lees would be taking on a new position with the company, though it’s not entirely clear what that might be — describing it only as “time-critical” and “focused on driving maximum impact in 2012 with Windows Phone and Windows 8.” (So, it’s safe to assume he’s not becoming a janitor.) The shakeup isn’t terribly surprising, especially considering the CEO’s own admission that Windows Phone 7 was not performing as well as expected in the market.

The division’s interim leader, Myerson, has been with Microsoft since 1997 and previously headed up the team in charge of Exchange. For now he will continue to report to Lees, who will remain the president of the Windows Phone group, even if that is in name only.

Microsoft replaces Andy Lees as Windows Phone head originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Despite Steve Ballmer’s apparent disdain for the Googly OS, he must love it really. He’s now making money from ten separate Android and Chrome licensing deals, having just inked yet another agreement with Compal — a large Taiwanese original design manufacturer (ODM) that builds tablets and smartphones for brands like Lenovo. From this point on, a “reasonable and fair” chunk of Compal’s $28 billion annual income will be diverted to the coffers at Redmond. Overall, this means that Microsoft’s tentacles have spread across 55 percent of the Android ODM industry and — more importantly — are poked firmly into two different mobile OS pies. As cut-throat as this approach might seem, however, it’s surely better than freezing the market with cold and ceaseless waves of litigation. PR after the break.

[Thanks, Majed]

Continue reading Microsoft signs Compal deal, now takes money from half of all Android ODMs

Microsoft signs Compal deal, now takes money from half of all Android ODMs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 07:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Know who loves it when other OEMs call him big poppa? Ballmer, that’s who. So much so that he’s 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. So, keep your eyes peeled this upcoming winter. We have a feeling you won’t be able to escape the commercial onslaught, anyway.

Microsoft doles out the dough to Nokia and Samsung, plans Mango marketing bonanza for year’s end originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer was his usual frank self when he met financial analysts yesterday, admitting that the world isn’t yet as keen on Windows Phone as he’d hoped. To be precise, AllThingsD reported him as saying: “We haven’t sold quite as many as I would have liked in the first year.” His cunning plan? Well, that’s easy: make it all Nokia’s problem. Or, as he put it: “With Nokia we have a dedicated hardware partner that is all-in on Windows Phones.” Indeed, the Finnish manufacturer has now staked far more than Microsoft on the success of this “third ecosystem” and, if its imminent Mango handsets fail to turn things around, we may eventually see Stephen Elop standing behind that silent cash register.

Ballmer: Windows Phones aren’t selling very well, but we’re not worried originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 06:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steve Ballmer revealed a new service yesterday that should be, ahem, music to your ears when it starts spinning this fall. During Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference in Los Angeles, the Windows chief mentioned Xbox Music — a MS-branded music streaming service, with over 11 million songs and Kinect compatibility. That last feature will let you shout your music selections across the room, and could result in some pretty gnarly sibling battles whenever music tastes don’t match. Unlike the console’s current last.fm offering, we can only hope that Music will support multitasking, allowing you to settle those musical differences in the virtual boxing ring as the beat goes on, rather than on the living room floor.

Update: The Business Insider editor who reported the quote tweeted a correction and updated the article, explaining “No new Xbox Music service coming this fall. Just voice command to existing service. ‘Xbox. Music.’ Correction posted.”

Ballmer: Microsoft will launch Xbox Music this fall (update: not true) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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