New Details Emerge on Microsoft's Requirements for Future Windows Phones

Microsoft recently confirmed that it's creating a series of reference designs for future Windows Mobile devices, and now a set of specifications for one of these has leaked out.

There have been unconfirmed reports for some time about Microsoft engineers are putting together a collection of "chassis" -- designs that will be the basis for future models.

These went beyond the rumor stage last month, when Microsoft began trying to hire a "Windows Mobile Chassis Principal PM Architect." According to the job listing, this person will be part of "hardware platform definition (Chassis specifications), reference platform and BSP development."

The Specs for Chassis 1
While the rumors of the chassis system have been around for months, there have been few details on any of the designs. Until now.

A unnamed source has given ZDnet a set of specifications for what's being called Chassis 1.  This is a list of requirements for a high-end Windows Mobile-based phone:

• Nvidia's 800 MHz Tegra chip or a similar one from TI or Qualcomm
• A 3.5-inch or bigger multi-touch display at either WVGA (800 by 480 pixels) or FWVGA (854 by 480 pixels)
• At least 256 MB of RAM and 1 GB of internal storage
• Wi-Fi b/g and Bluetooth 2.1 required
• GPS, compass, and accelerometer
• 3 MPx or greater camera
• micro-USB port and 3.5 mm headset jack

Optional features include a microSD card slot, hardware keyboard, D-pad, and haptic feedback.

Details on the other chassis designs are not known at this time. Also not known is when these sets of hardware requirements will go into effect.

Source: Microsoft and ZDnet