Motorola apparently told Reuters back in February, that it was designing a Microsoft-driven smartphone. Finally, in August, the first leaked pictures appear; and that's a prototype. Why the delay?

The easiest explanation for the delay is that the phone network operators are very much afraid of the power of Microsoft to dominate an industry.

The other explanation may be simply that the phone industry believes a smartphone has to have Bluetooth to succeed; and Microsoft can't deliver that technology until it gets the new software ready.

I've now changed the story a tad; Robert Levy of Smartphone Thoughts points out that the picture we used was originally posted on his web site.

Apologies for the confusion, Robert...



 

">

Almost every OS of Microsoft has native Bluetooth support or will have soon. Orange and o2 are the first 2 carriers who will come with PPC phones with Bluetooth. MS Smartphone platform with native Bluetooth is coming imho.....

Upcoming Microsoft Smartphone and PocketPC Phone Edition Platforms with native Bluetooth support? Both platforms are based on CE. NET 4.2, which has native Bluetooth support. http://www.pocketpcpassion.com/forum/showt...p?s=&threadid=33620

PPC Phone Edition
http://msmobiles.com/article.php/31.html

Motorola to make Orange brand handsets: Orange has selected Motorola to supply two handsets for its Signature own-brand line. The Motorola V500 and V600 handsets will "include flip screens, Bluetooth, integrated cameras, full-color browsers, quad-band functionality, Java gaming and photo messaging", RCR Wireless reports. Orange will start flogging the new handsets from September.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/68/31433.html