WMExperts is reporting that Microsoft is sending the dubbing “Windows Mobile” packing with the release of their next major mobile OS update.  The rebadging that we will come to know will be “Windows Phone“.  To Microsoft with all sincerity, I say “thanks”.

Let’s take a moment to consider Microsoft’s wisdom here…  A few years ago I started working for a software company that specializes in mobile computing.  Myself being primarily a Palm OS user at the time, I had to learn a LOT about all of the different platforms that the company provided software for.  With solutions for all of the Windows Mobile incarnations being one of the supported platforms, I had to learn all of the different naming conventions.  Looking in from the outside, let’s just sum it up by saying that there was a fair amount of confusion as I mastered the differences between Windows Mobile, Windows Mobile Pocket PC, Windows Mobile Professional, Windows Mobile Standard, Windows Mobile Classic, Pocket PC, Windows Mobile Smartphone, and on and on and on and on.  Then we had 2003, 2003 SE, 5, 5.x, 6, 6.1 and the upcoming 6.5.  Looking down the road, 7.  Could it be any more confusing?!

In my opinion, “Windows Phone” makes sense.  It makes sense to me as a current user of Windows Mobile devices.  It makes sense to me as a former outsider looking in, trying to make sense of a completely non-sensical naming scheme.  Could Microsoft be trying to make their Windows Phone OS offering more appealing to outsiders?  Could the name change actually help perception?

What are your thoughts on this?  Let us know in the Comments section below!

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