Motorola CEO Says Windows Mobile 7 Coming Next Year

The CEO of Motorola's comments today on the relative competitive strength of Microsoft's Windows Mobile verses Google's Android would have attracted attention anyway, but what makes them really interesting is the reason why Sanjay Jha thinks Microsoft will have an edge next year: a new version of Windows Mobile.

Jha said during a conference call:

As you know, Windows 6 series is available in 2009 and as compared to Android, we believe in 2009 Android is more competitive; more of our effort and focus in 2009 is going to Android, but in 2010 when Windows 7 will become available, we will then participate in a more focused way in Windows Mobile 7 in 2010.

Oops, He Did It Again

This isn't the first time Sanjay Jha has jumped the gun talking by talking publicly about upcoming Microsoft smartphone operating systems.

In October, he referred to both Windows Mobile 6.5 and Windows Mobile 7, but didn't attach any dates to them.

Since that time, though, rumors have indicated that Windows Mobile 6.5 will be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress tradeshow later this month. However, the first devices

Way Down the Road

Despite the CEO of Motorola giving a basic timetable for when Windows Mobile 7 will be released, at this point, virtually nothing is known about it.

Windows Mobile 6.5 is rumored to include a refreshed look for this operating system, and be bundled with a suite of on-line services.

Motorola: Windows Mobile AND Android

As Sanjay Jha alluded to today, Motorola is going to be focusing its smartphone efforts on Android-based devices, and ones running Windows Mobile.

According to unconfirmed reports, this company's first product running Android will be out in the second quarter of this year. It will supposedly have a great deal in common with HTC's premier Android-based phone, the T-Mobile G1. Both devices will include a touchscreen and sliding QWERTY keyboard.

Motorola is also expected to be close to release some Windows Mobile smartphones, as well as some smartphone-like models for Verizon.

 Via AppScout