Microsoft to introduce flexible specs for cheaper devices? [Rumor]

According to reports over at WinRumors, Microsoft may be planning to announce a more than flexible hardware specification allowance for manufacturers of Windows Phone 7 at MIX11.

"According to sources familiar with the company's plans, the new hardware specifications will let device manufacturers such every bit Nokia to create cheaper Windows Phone devices. The proclamation may be made as early as the company's MIX11 conference this calendar week. The new flexibility will offer device makers the selection to use cheaper components to bring the overall cost of a Windows Phone down. Microsoft is understood to be open to flexible specifications in order to gain smartphone market share and consume into Google's Android efforts."

We also received this info from @WindosPhone8 (still rumour guys!): "New flexible spec #Wp7 chasis requires no wi fi, bluetooth, 3g, photographic camera, fm, compass, gyro. Must take wvga 3.5"+, gps, accelerometer, 2g+"

While this would tie in nicely with Nokia bringing devices to the platform and would certainly appeal to many with a really tight budget, I don't run across this happening only because in that location are already fairly cheap options already on the platform - namely the HTC 7 Trophy which is available at Amazon (United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland) for £299.99 (just under $500US), not to mention previous deals on the Samsung Focus. As well as that, lower-finish hardware would introduce concerns from users that the devices may not be able to run the software (and applications) smoothly to ensure a user experience found on top-terminate models.

With the current line of WP7 devices packing a single-core processor, I'yard non entirely sure how low we could get earlier performance begins to get an issue, especially with multitasking coming around the corner later this twelvemonth in Mango. Microsoft themselves stated numerous times they're in the smartphone race for the long run, why would they begin to become dorsum on the WP7 foundations that features strict platform hardware requirements? WP7 would besides run the risk of mild fragmentation, something that made many of united states of america exit Android.

Let'southward see if anything is appear at MIX this week, what do you call back about the rumor? Exercise you think information technology's nonsense and Microsoft will stick to the fantastic strict specification requirements, or do you lot believe they're starting to get impatient most marketshare?

Source: WinRumors

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