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You are here: Home / BlackBerry / How about a BlackBerry that runs Windows Mobile?

How about a BlackBerry that runs Windows Mobile?

March 12, 2006 by Robb Dunewood 29 Comments

There is an interesting poll over on BlackBerry Forums that asks BlackBerry users if on a future BlackBerry model if they would rather see the BlackBerry OS or Microsoft’s Windows Mobile installed. The Blackberry OS appears to be on its way to a landslide victory with over 82% of the votes thus far, however, the more I think about a Windows Mobile powered BlackBerry, the more I think that it might not be a bad idea.

Now, before I get flamed to death, I am not saying that Research in Motion should scrap the BB OS for Windows Mobile. I am, however, saying that with RIM clearly getting into the consumer market and plans for a BlackBerry with multimedia capabilities and an integrated digital camera seemingly on the way, offering a device based on the Windows Mobile OS is not a stretch.

There are a ton of applications already developed for Windows Mobile. RIM would be able to tap into this large application base and not have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to adding new features to the BlackBerry. Microsoft is in this space to stay and it is always easier to partner with Microsoft than it is to compete head-to-head against them. I honestly don’t think that Microsoft cares if you use a BlackBerry or some other PDA type device so long as it runs Windows Mobile and connects to Exchange on the back end. Just look at how well the Treo 700w is doing right now.

Microsoft, PDA, RIM, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile

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Filed Under: BlackBerry, RIM, Rumor Mill Tagged With: Windows Mobile 5.0

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Comments

  1. Thought says

    March 12, 2006 at 10:59 pm

    A Windows Mobile BB only would cheapen the brand. The BB OS is far superior to Windows Mobile.

    Why risk the one major differentiation between your product and everyone else’s…namely, a superior system? It’s like putting a Ford engine inside of a BMW or Porsche…sure you can do it, but why?

    A BB is a combination of great hardware and great software. To trade out that great software for something less functional, more buggy, and just flat out inferior, would be a huge marketing disaster. Kind of like Coca Cola introduced their “new Coke.”

    Let BB be BlackBerry, and let it compete against Windows Mobile and all other competitors. BB can win out, as long as it keeps the edge it currently enjoys in terms of innovation, stability, reliability, and usability.

    Reply
  2. Robb Dunewood says

    March 13, 2006 at 7:39 am

    I see your point, not so sure that I totally agree. Most consumers that buy their own BlackBerry don’t buy them because the BB OS is superior to Windows Mobile. They buy them becasue they want to hook them up to their corporate email.

    I hate to keep refering to the Treo 700w, but, you see TV commercials, hear radio spots, read magazine and web ads that are specifically promoting Windows Mobile 5 and Microsoft and these things are selling like crazy.

    Reply
  3. Treo 700W Convert says

    March 13, 2006 at 7:58 am

    I did the unthinkable. I switched from a Blackberry 7250 to a Treo 700w when I quit my job and went into business for myself. I continued to use my 7250 for about 6 weeks but honestly it sucked because it wasn’t hooked up to my old job.

    If BlackBerry made a device with Microsoft on it I would buy one in a New York minute because you can do so much more with Microsoft than blackberry when you don’t have it hooked to a company.

    Reply
  4. Hell NO says

    March 13, 2006 at 9:19 am

    Windows on a BB? That would be the last BB I would buy, heck I’d sell my current BB knowing RIM would be making the biggest mistake ever. Lots of BB’s are bought now because they work, they are secure, they are reliable and because they are NOT windoz. Add a OS from the $haft into the mix and 3/4’s of BB users will drop BB even the idea of a M$ on BB brings thoughts of what POS it would be.

    Reply
    • is it possible? says

      May 16, 2011 at 9:39 am

      A WM on a RIM BB would be a great thing for me to have as i want to run Hamachi on my BB (free internet etc) so that i can talk to a friend of mine who is overseas and we use Hamachi on pcs and I’m not always able to connect to the internet to use Hamachi. I would like to know if it is possible to have Hamchi on a BB without needing WM?

      Reply
  5. Robb Dunewood says

    March 13, 2006 at 9:33 am

    I just think that there are way more people who buy BlackBerries because of the email. The OS that they run is a distant after thought if even they think about it at all.

    I know that there are CrackBerry addicts that would never buy BlackBerry running Windows Mobile but I don’t understand why if RIM ever creates such a device, you would sell your current BlackBerry.

    That is kind of like saying that I love my BMW but if they ever start making pickup trucks, they will lose me as customer forever.

    I don’t get it. What does one have to do with the other?

    Reply
  6. Windows Mobile 5 Blackberry says

    March 13, 2006 at 10:20 am

    There is a rumor on howard forums that T-Mobile is coming out with a Windows Mobile 5 Blackberry.

    Reply
  7. Thought says

    March 13, 2006 at 8:40 pm

    It’s not that so many people go to purchase such a device with the thought that I’ve got to have this or that OS…it’s that they choose the one with the OS that works the best.

    I think most people like BB’s because:
    1) Simply, they work and work well at what they are supposed to do.
    2) They are easy to operate.
    3) As a side note, the construction of the BB devices seems so much more substantial than other smartphones. Of course, this would still be the case even with a different OS.

    To me, BB is at a place very similar to where Palm was at its height. They are respected as the competitor in the market offers the best reliability and usability, largely through elegance, simplicity, and economy of software design, which is the opposite of most Microsoft products.

    The question is where do they go from here? I think where Palm lost their edge was when they stopped innovating and allowed the many MS devices to take the lead in features like multimedia, color screens, etc.

    BB doesn’t need to start to sell Windows Mobile devices, it needs to keep ahead of WM devices. If they add multimedia capabilities that will do much to ensure that WM doesn’t overtake them.

    For instance, consider the great BB 7130e. Imagine if they added to that an SD card slot, a camera, and some nice software to play music and video. That would be a true Treo competitor.

    As for the Treo 700w…sure it’s selling well. But I attribute that to:
    1) it’s a new Treo, and any new Treo device would generate buzz
    2) it runs on that sweet Verizon 3G EVDO network.

    If the new Treo had been a 700p running the Palm OS, does anyone doubt that this device would also be selling very well?

    To summarize, I think BB’s strength is its identity in the market as the smartphone device that offers the best usability, reliability, and simplicity. To offer BB’s with Windows Mobile would dilute that identity, and in the long run hurt the brand more than help it.

    Reply
  8. Supermanfan says

    April 9, 2006 at 10:54 am

    Sounds a lot like running Windows XP on an Apple Mac. Oh wait, you can do that now. This is another example where you would think it would never happen because why would you want to dumb-down your Mac with Windows.

    If Microsoft can convince Steve Jobs to release a dual-boot product to run Windows on the Mac, I can easily see Microsoft getting RIM to run WM on a Blackberry.

    I’m not saying that I am for it, but I would be surprised if it didn’t happen at this point.

    Reply
  9. why not offer it? says

    May 13, 2008 at 3:21 pm

    Why not offer wm to the people that want it. I’d try it out. So long as it was truly compatible with the device. If it performs like my BB does now, with the trackball and sd slot and whatnot, and had the functionality and versatility of windows, I’d buy it.

    Reply
  10. Suwanh says

    August 6, 2008 at 7:09 am

    i would like the BB to have windows. the blackberry has a nice firmware but it need feature like internet explorer, ms word, windows media (most compatiable with everything on the plant media). other than that they are the best in phone that i have ever used. I’m tired of converting video and music. Blackberry is the most soild device i ever use but, without some features people go running. if blackberry ever comes out with blackberry os with windows media, internet explorer,ms words theu would be the king of phones, that why blackverry is called the RIM the rim of every phone.

    Reply
  11. jonny says

    September 6, 2008 at 7:07 pm

    I’m new with bb. and like the hardware, but yes I think that will be much compatible and interfaciable with a windows aplication, dont know much about the WM. and dont know if I can download it in the bb. but definaly will be a more complet hand computer, so if any one know how this can be don, please will definatly will like to know?? even better if it was some form of Mac mobile MM. dont know if this abailable but will be gand to have it like that!!!

    Reply
  12. Luca says

    October 23, 2008 at 8:59 pm

    I would love a blackberry that could run WinMobile, i have had experience in both software fields and i truly enjoyed WinMobile more. Having said that on my phone i am currently running a mobile Linux that me and 4 coworkers have worked on for months and that is what i will stick with until i get my G1

    Reply
  13. Jimmy says

    October 23, 2008 at 9:01 pm

    Blackberry Curves need a built in PDF viewer then i will be completely satisfied

    Reply
  14. Chris says

    November 16, 2008 at 12:15 pm

    I’ve never tried a Blackberry. Never even gave it a second thought because of the fact that windows mobile so easily integrates with the windows experience on my laptop. This is especially true with the onset of windows live. That integration (or lack thereof) is what keeps Blackberry from being a viable option for me. If RIM were to make that integration possible, I would be all over it, especially if it could be done on the new Storm…..

    Reply
  15. Mike says

    January 2, 2009 at 7:16 am

    I was looking for a way to run Windows Mobile and Blackberry OS on my Curve, allowing me to switch to Windows Mobile so I could run a mobile softphone client. I haven’t been able to find a SIP softphone client for the Blackberry OS.

    Reply
  16. Vince says

    January 25, 2009 at 5:11 pm

    I’ve had my BB Bold for about two weeks. I don’t have any issues with the phone. The OS operates without glitches or slowdowns, they’re plenty of downloadable software available. (Some useful some not.)It comes down to what a person’s needs are. I’m not a big fan of having to download additional software to connect my BB to my laptop. Aside from that, I enjoy it very much. I find the media software on it very functional and does what it is supposed to do. RIM just need to make sure they stay on top of improving BB OS 4.6 and offering updates for it. BB hardware is also very functional and I’m glad I made the purchase. Besides, I’ve heard many people complain about how windows mobile is glitchy and slows the phone down. Hell, even my sixteen year old daughter complained about it. I don’t know if it’s the hardware or the software or maybe a combination of the both.

    Reply
  17. jim says

    March 6, 2009 at 7:08 am

    i’m new to blackberry and i can’t stand the fact that i can’t flag emails for follow-up. how do blackberry users live without this? how hard would it be to add this feature?

    my old pda ran windows mobile and i miss it (even though it froze just like desktop windows on occasion).

    Reply
  18. God says

    April 8, 2009 at 12:45 am

    BB OS is far better.

    Reply
  19. Jesus says

    April 8, 2009 at 12:47 am

    I agree.

    Reply
  20. techguy says

    May 5, 2009 at 9:08 am

    I’m a support admin and I’ve been considering picking up an iphone for this one reason, it has a vpn client and and rdp client. So I could connect to my vpn and terminal into a server in a pinch. If my blackberry could offer that funcionality via a windows mobile interface that would be great, but I don’t fancy the notion of having to regularly reboot my blackberry. I don’t care about editing word docs. I need to get my work email reliably and beyond that it would be nice to have vpn and rdp capability. It’s a pain dragging out my laptop to remote into work sometimes when I have a relatively simple task to perform.

    Reply
  21. Bunni says

    May 10, 2009 at 10:12 am

    WHAT!? IS this guy SERIOUS?? “It’s like putting a Ford engine inside of a BMW or Porsche”

    Obviously people who say this know NOTHING about windows mobile or the functionality it offers. I went from a WinMO PDA to a BB p.o.s. Its entirely disappointing, however BB is the only company which considers cameraless devices. I would buy a cameraless WinMO device in a HEARTBEAT. Paying for BIS? Absolutely ridiculous. The BB OS is poor, hardly compares to a porsche engine, lol – unless you want a car which sits pretty until you take it for a spin around the block.

    How many mods have you seen for the BB OS? The apps for BB and for WinMo dont even compare, and I think its horrible how BB tries to rip its customers off; while WinMO offers all the perks for free.

    Robb Dunewoood- Im with you on this one.

    BB users just love the blackberry for email. You want to pay 500+ for a phone which runs email ok? Sorry but thats naive and a waste of money. If WinMO email doesnt work correctly for some of you guys, hate to say it but its a user problem and not the OS. If you are incompetent enough to believe that BB OS holds anything above WinMO, then you might as well stick to your iPODs, wii’s and company desktops.

    I’ll give credit to BB where it is due – they target a consumer which many companies have forgotten about. But as for embracing a WinMO OS – they would be far better off with it than without. Maybe they can add in a simple user interface for email to keep some of you “BB OS guys” content.

    Reply
  22. Matrix says

    June 8, 2009 at 3:24 pm

    I’m starting to regret Blackberry, it is too much elitist. whilst with Windows Mobile you can upgrade your handheld with microSD cards that provide WiFi, or FM radio, or TV tunner, BB can’t. RIM does not want to give older models a second chance, they just want you to pay for a juicy$$$$ dataplan or you must buy a newer model, so no writting drivers for that purpose is out of question.
    BBs are for corporate joes, WM is for the whole world!!!!!

    Reply
  23. Matrix says

    June 8, 2009 at 3:33 pm

    Fords are easily overhauld, BMW and Ferraris aren’t.

    Reply
  24. Joe says

    July 2, 2009 at 2:24 pm

    Yes windows mobile 6.1 would be very nice to have on my blackberry curve 8350i. I alreadu have it converted to a boostberry for boosts 50 unlimited plan which is nice but I am looking to see if there is a way to make it run windows mobile instead as windows has sooo much more you can do then the RIM software which i do not understand why BB is slow to adapt and make thier os compatible with windows type applications. Offer the phone with either windows or BB the buyers choice and sales would double easy.

    Reply
  25. hapishyguy says

    August 10, 2009 at 1:59 pm

    Its not about the looks or the people who buy blackberry buy it because of the emails only. Most people are buying blackberry because of the reliable OS. I had Bold and it had the perfect OS, never crashed or slowed down. But after 2 years I stopped using it because TMobile raised the price for the data plan. I had to pay 25/month for data+500 text messages whereas on my family plan I was already paying 20/month extra for unlimited text messages. TMobile is just stupid. Why would someone pay 25/month with included text messages. Anyway! thats not the point. So I bought the new TMobile Dash 3G and I am using the 9.99/month tzones and I am getting emails and the internet and the instant messaging. So I am saving 15/month now. Anyway! back to the point. I HAVE to use the dash 3g because thisis the only nice and small phone that has track ball but I hate the windows on it. The OS on the Bold was much better and all the 3rd party applications and everything else worked fast. But i guess no choice now. Either pay 25/month or deal with stupid windows.
    Is there any way we can put/download blackberry operating system on Dash3G ?

    Reply
  26. grossie says

    December 29, 2010 at 10:43 pm

    Why not make BB OS compatible with the MS OS. Its not that much of a stretch. Then you would be able to run MS apps on your BB. I have a Curve 8330 and My daughter has the same phone. I would love to be able to tether my phone to my computer but Sprint will not accept the latest BB OS for my curve. If I could use MS OS apps I could use pdanet or a slew of other tether apps that are free instead of having to pay $50 for Tether.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. freitasm says:
    March 13, 2006 at 3:35 pm

    Windows Mobile BlackBerry?

    Over at RIMarkable there’s a comment on a poll running on the BlackBerry Forums: “How about a BlackBerry that runs Windows Mobile?”:

    “…I am not saying that Research in Motion should scrap the BB OS for Windows Mobile. I am, however, saying tha…

    Reply
  2. Should Research in Motion create a Windows Mobile powered BlackBerry device? | RIMarkable | The official, unofficial BlackBerry Weblog says:
    October 7, 2006 at 1:25 am

    […] e a Windows Mobile powered device? This isn’t the first time that I have asked this question, however, I do have a bit of a different spin on it this time. Tangent coming… Over a y […]

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