Microsoft and Orange doing something?

[Guest DJHope]

Sounds to me like microsoft and orange *might* actually be doing something today, treadsoftly posted some news on the smartphone newsgroup about responses to peoples txts. On updates people seem to be getting very confused when microsoft and orange use words like "in the next release of smartphone" and somehow seem to think this means a new phone. Now microsoft havent yet not released updates for their products not at least since windows 3.11 i think? why would they start now ? also orange lead us to believe that

"Orange, Microsoft and HTC are committed to the continuing improvement of the SPV and the Smartphone platform. We are listening to your feedback, and we will work together to ensure that the SPV continues to evolve in the directions our customers want."

Why would the phone have an updates page if no updates were likely to be released, microsoft also said something intresting on the newsgorup "All Smartphone 2002 devices can be updated over the air" this leads us to believe UPDATES WILL BE AVALABLE, now why does everyone have to be so pesimistic and jump to conclusions??

On the certification issue orange ARE trying to work something out! One of the things i herd tho that didnt sound good is its fairly obvious microsoft are pushing orange into making the decsision for signing, they appear to WARN orange of possible problems. So even though orange are making the decision i rekon their being pushed into it.

The certification thing sounds like its going to be an arse, but the solution orange propose seems to be their going to be looking over your shoulder at every move, they are going to be making devlopment hardware avalable to devlopers and hopefully they will make the process easier and cheeper (unconfirmed)! This apperntly wont happen till the new year :D

[Guest DJHope]

Heres the full article:

http://spv.orange-today.co.uk/yournews/sto.../sm_720661.html

Your questions

You've been texting us in droves with your comments about the SPV - thanks,

we really appreciate the feedback.

Here are our answers to some of your questions so far:

Sounds

Can I download any cool ring tones to my SPV? Can u tell me how?

We're giving away free ring tones for Christmas. If you go back to the top

of Today section and click on the Christmas phone fun link you'll find a

section of festive goodies - including classic Christmas ring tones which

you can download for free.

Games

Please, please, please get the worms game or snails and speedball put onto

the spv! They have all been setup for the pocket pc so it should be

possible.

We're going to be releasing exciting new games for the SPV in the very near

future. You can already play Rebound, which comes free on your phone's

memory card, but check the Orange SPV site for great new games to download

very soon.

Pictures

Please can u add a feature where u can assign a photo 2 a contact. also can

u add a program 2 take photos, so I don't have 2 start an MMS every time.

We are working closely with Microsoft to help specify the features required

in future releases of the Smart phone OS. The features that you are

requesting are likely to be addressed by third-party developers in the near

future.

Messaging

Counter to tell you how many characters left in a SMS message.

This is another feature we are very keen to provide in a future version of

the SPV.

Battery

I would like better battery life.

We are always looking for improvements in battery life and will be working

with Microsoft to make any improvements we can. Your phone's battery is

estimated to last for two to three hours talk time, two hours GPRS mode and

100 hours standby.

Development community

Orange need to allow developers to install their own applications onto the

SPV without going through a certification process.

Orange is working closely with developers to put resources in place to

support the development community for the SPV. We will be launching a

website early in the new year offering information and advice, details of

the certification process, and how to access development hardware for use in

the UK and abroad. It is our intention to create a process which will

address the issues that certification and application signing raise for the

SPV development community, while maintaining the high level of security and

customer support that our general users expect.

Messaging

Be able to switch on delivery reports for all messages, not just switch it

on one by one.

The t9 predictive dictionary should be able to learn new words.

I would like the ability to use number option in a text message. To set

delivery reports on for all messages not just for each one.

Email

Empty folder option in inbox and sent items.

Email I would like to be able to add attachments to emails on my spv .

Please add the facility to add attachments to emails.

Be able to attach photos to emails. Needs a character count

when writing smss. have a separate inbox for smses and emails.

And hotmail on the mobile would be useful. Thank you. Mark

Multiple email accounts.

Orange, Microsoft and HTC are committed to the continuing improvement of the

SPV and the Smartphone platform. We are listening to your feedback, and we

will work together to ensure that the SPV continues to evolve in the

directions our customers want. In particular, we are working closely with

Microsoft to help specify the features required in future releases of the

Smartphone OS. In common with our partners at Microsoft, we cannot comment

on what those features will be at this point in time. Many of the features

that you are requesting are likely to be addressed by third-party developers

in the near future, and we will work hard to make sure that those

applications are avilable to you.

Last updated: 12:22 Tuesday 3rd December 2002