I'm not real sure how to read into Microsoft snapping up Danger, makers of the OS that powers the very popular T-Mobile Sidekick/Slide line, it could go either way.
Regular readers remember I made mention of the new i-Mate 9502 a little while back. I thought the phone was positively scrumptious and I dubbed it the T-Mo Sidekick for grown-ups. It is certainly business looking but keeping that cool "flip" screen thingy that has made the Sidekick such a hit with the "hip" crowd.
Today, Microsoft announced they had acquired Danger for an undisclosed sum and are looking to use the something to spring board further into the consumer market with both feet.
"The addition of Danger serves as a perfect complement to our existing software and services, and also strengthens our dedication to improving mobile experiences centered around individuals and what they like," Microsoft entertainment unit president Robbie Bach said in a statement.
So, Robbie is actually working while in Barcelona not just taking a holiday, good for him.
But, as details start to emerge, this is looking kind of strange (but no where near as strange as Microsoft's bone-headed decision to try and buy Yahoo).
Danger doesn't make their own hardware, they make the OS and services that run on that hardware. What Microsoft may be trying to acquire is the know how to get those services out there? It's not even like Danger is a household world like the T-Mobile Sidekick which would make sense if you are trying to purchase instant market share/awareness.
So what could Microsoft be up to here?
One thing is acquire the company and you acquire who makes the hardware. The Sidekick has been field tested with even the most recent bugs worked out. Could be like buying the contract to fast track a Zune Phone? (Yes, I said it.)
But, Microsoft could have went after i-Mate who are already in the phone business with a much more, at least in my opinion, classier looking device that rivals the the Sidekick in the i-Mate 9502 (short user review here). Zuneified it (yes, I made that word up) or not and hit the ground running. Plus i-Mate isn't exactly in the best of financial shape last I heard and their devices already run Windows Mobile.
For me, Microsoft is not making a lot of sense in the most public of acquisitions lately, Yahoo had to be the dumbest idea I've ever seen any company try to pull of and now acquiring folks who simply make software that is incompatible with Windows Mobile is on the borderline for me.
As I said, maybe there's something else behind the scenes and Microsoft wanted to snatch it up before the company went public. Maybe Microsoft just wanted someone familiar with the form factor and already had a hardware vendor on contract.
I don't know. But if we have a Zune phone by Christmas that looks like a T-Mobile Sidekick/Slide, then I guess we'll have the answer now won't we?
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