Windows Phone 7 devices: no Zune connector, OEMs make the call
- April 23rd, 2010
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For those curious, the Zune connector i.e. the sync/charge interface cable from the Microsoft Zune series, won’t be used at all with Windows Phone 7 Series devices.
That’s the good news, since said Zune connector is a little large and more than a little proprietary.
The bad news is that the WP7s chassis specifications don’t require any specific sync/charge format, meaning OEMs who make our next-gen phones are free to use Mini-USB, Micro-USB or even their own proprietary format.
Now we hope OEMs have learned their lesson in regards to that last one, so we don’t think we’ll see many of those. Still, for those wanting a definitive decision with regards to Micro or Mini USB … looks like Microsoft is going to let the old free market decide.
In news apt to surprise absolutely no one, HTC CEO Peter Chou told Forbes this week that his company would make a Windows Phone 7 Series handset by the end of the year. For the sake of argument, we suppose there are a couple reasons he wouldn’t want to. Historically, HTC has pledged loyalty to Microsoft time and again, even making the premium HD2 a Windows Mobile exclusive, but conspiracy theorists might suggest Microsoft returned the favor by denying the HD2 entry to Windows Phone 7 Series. Also, HTC has been rocking the bejeezus out of Android as of late — the news that the company’s planning a WP7S phone comes alongside HTC’s claim that the Nexus One was a success. Regardless, we never questioned if HTC would build a WP7S handset, only when; there’s no way they’re going to let a lucrative new smartphone market get mopped up by the likes of Samsung and LG.