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Microsoft partners with Smart for WP7 Launch

Go the note from PR of Microsoft Philippines earlier today that they’ve signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the launching of Windows Phone 7 in the Philippines this December.


The press release is a little vague but here’s the summary sent to me earlier:

Today, Microsoft Philippines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with leading network provider Smart Communications, Inc., for a collaboration to introduce new offerings that promises to transform the Filipinos’ mobile lifestyle.

Microsoft and SMART have worked closely together to provide a special combination of service platforms and introduce Windows Phone 7, a different kind of phone with new experiences to the local market.

“We are pleased to partner with Microsoft in launching Windows Phone 7 devices in the Philippines,” said Napoleon Nazareno, President and CEO of Smart.

Microsoft and Smart will be holding a series of events leading up to the Windows Phone 7 launch towards the end of the year, including a pre-order campaign and a special preview of the Windows Phone 7 device in time for the holidays.

What is un-clear from the release is whether all Windows Phone 7 devices will be exclusive to Smart. Usually, it’s the handset manufacturers that make exclusive deals with telcos, not the mobile OS developer. If this is the case, Microsoft really that “confident and strict” with WP7.

So far, there are handsets from Samsung, HTC, LG and even Dell that have been announced to carry Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 OS. We’ll have to see this December.

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Avatar for Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

41 Responses

  1. Avatar for Jepoi Jepoi says:

    @slighmd – thats a good question about the marketplace being accessible for Philippine users. have you checked out dedicated sites to WP7 and inquired about the marketplace’s availability to other regions besides the US and Europe?

  2. Avatar for Jepoi Jepoi says:

    @leemar – oks naman ang postpaid ng smart. they just don’t have the flashiest of handsets like globe. i did get a free E63 (outdated i know) from them via Plan 1200 and immediately ditched it for a Nexus One I got from the gray market.

  3. Avatar for leemar leemar says:

    Wp7 kulang sa features, better to stick with android and globe, the leader in postpaid, smart pang prepaid lng yan.pang masa.

  4. Avatar for ettenoj ettenoj says:

    wala pa. mg nest year n siguro lalabas yan

  5. Avatar for slighmd slighmd says:

    Any updates? meron na ba dito sa Pinas? may nakita na ba kayong for sale dito na Windows Phone mga sir?

  6. Avatar for eonzerimar eonzerimar says:

    @Epstein
    hehe dami yata nun, sana nga Open Source kanila :)

  7. Avatar for Epstein Epstein says:

    gnradaza
    replied on Oct 22nd, 2010 at 8:28 am (18)

    ==========================================
    Jam. replied on Oct 21st, 2010 at 10:24 pm (6)

    Globe – Apple
    Smart – Microsoft
    Sun – ??? (sana android or meego) >:)
    =========================================

    Sun – Linux

    Just kidding

    =========================================

    Kung Sun – Linux that would be Sun – Meego, Meego – Nokia

  8. Avatar for slighmd slighmd says:

    it should bump our online way of living. thing is, i dunno why data costs so much here. Based on a 10k/month plan, i calculated it from globe’s 0.10php/kb and it only gave a measly 60MB of data. and that’s 10k! in other countries, a 1.5k/month plan would already give around 5gb of data. for that same price, others even have unlimited data caps

  9. Avatar for Patrick Cabalquinto Patrick Cabalquinto says:

    Just a question lang po.. how many are Windows live users here in the Philippines vs. Yahoo users? Im a Windows Live user here since Ive worked with one of their Callcenter Vendor before. but based on the tools we used, the population of Windows Live Users is somewhat small compared to Yahoo Mail services..

    So do you think this will bump our Online way of living? just my two cents

  10. Avatar for Vistaster Vistaster says:

    Naku po . Panay bugs and hacks siguro yan. Dalang dala na ko dyan sa microsoft. panay sakit ng ulo ang binibigay nyan sa end user.

    FTW sana ang iphone 4 with Smart. haaay. wishful thinking na lang. di bale, in 2 years, move na ako sa smart. hahaha.

  11. Avatar for Herce Herce says:

    Lets hope Windows Phone cannibalizes Apples sales so these two control freak systems destroy each other.

  12. Avatar for technojock technojock says:

    @allan wp7 is really getting good reviews from tech sites. i would like to have a hands on time myself with a wp7 phone.

  13. Avatar for mr.bogus mr.bogus says:

    windows phone???? who cares!!!!

  14. Avatar for slighmd slighmd says:

    I read from somewhere that the device they are talking about isvthe htc 7 mozart

  15. Avatar for godofredo godofredo says:

    @gnradaza,

    FYI. Android and Meego are Linux-based systems developed for mobile platforms.

  16. Avatar for islacom islacom says:

    Samsung, HTC, LG and Dell – WP7 OS (Smart)

    VS.

    Apple iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4(Globe)

    ************************

    Smart has made a great move.
    Locking more than one particular Smart Phone Brand and Model.

    ***********************

    How will Globe retaliate on this?
    (The Leader in Postpaid) as they say.. hehe

    ***********************

    Abangan…

  17. Avatar for slighmd slighmd says:

    They said wp7 device so it could be a single device. Also i read from tech pinas that this “device” is actually the HTC MOZART

  18. Avatar for allan allan says:

    well, i read that wp7 is a totally different animal from winmo.
    we’ll just have to wait and see.

  19. Avatar for deuts deuts says:

    Whatever Windows can come up for the mobile device, I ain’t interested anymore. I’ve tried WinMo 6.5 and it sucked—to the bones! LOL!

  20. Avatar for Romester Romester says:

    I’m currently using Samsung Omnia HD (i8910). I’m thinking whether or not to get the new Omnia 7. Globe user here though xD

  21. Avatar for Jam. Jam. says:

    @Guy Radaza

    That would be awesomeeee! haha

  22. Avatar for edbanquil87 edbanquil87 says:

    Talagang out na ang SYMBIAN :( wawa naman!

  23. Avatar for Guy Radaza Guy Radaza says:

    ==========================================
    Jam. replied on Oct 21st, 2010 at 10:24 pm (6)

    Globe – Apple
    Smart – Microsoft
    Sun – ??? (sana android or meego) >:)
    =========================================

    Sun – Linux

    Just kidding :)

  24. Avatar for slighmd slighmd says:

    i have an xbox live account using my pinoy credit card, but i directed the zune payment to paypal. I tried downloading apps on the zune marketplace, but it told me to connect a Windows Phone 7 device before i could purchase and download an app.

    @drey
    usually, it’s the the OEM’s who get to choose their carriers and not the OS provider. so i really really wish there will be unlocked devices in the market.

  25. Avatar for Ian Ian says:

    Di pa okay bumili ng WP7 units. let’s wait for better updates before buying. Maybe a yr or 2 pwede na, lalo na pag nagkaron na ng video call feature ang phone.

  26. Avatar for Drey Drey says:

    If WP7 devices will all be exclusive to Smart it’d be stupid.. In the US, all of the Big 4 are getting WP7 devices.. so what’s so special here in the Phils. that it will only be available over at Smart? tsk3.. please Microsoft.. dont :D

  27. Avatar for mickespiritu mickespiritu says:

    @slighmd
    yeah, i’m also thinking about that too… i think and i’m just guessing that if you can create a legit philippine account on xbox live using your filipino credit card then it may be possible it’s supoorted… i dunno much about xbox coz i’m using ps3 with a ps3 network account with my friend’s address in NY… hehehe…

  28. Avatar for slighmd slighmd says:

    And how about the windows, zune and xbox live marketplace? Will it be supported? Will it work in our country?

  29. Avatar for mickespiritu mickespiritu says:

    rephrase…
    …does this mean we can only get a legit WM7 phone from smart and locked from smart.??? like HTC HD7… or we can just freely buy prepaid versions on HTC stores or grey market or anywhere and use Globe or Sun simcards…???

  30. Avatar for mickespiritu mickespiritu says:

    …does this mean we can only get a legit WM7 phone from smart.??? like HTC HD7… or we can buy prepaid versions on HTC stores and grey market anywhere…???

  31. Avatar for kathy kathy says:

    wow kelan kaya lalabas win 7? mas ok kaya kaysa android? will have to wait and see

  32. Avatar for Rom Rom says:

    this is awesome news! I want a Dell Venue Pro!

  33. Avatar for Jam. Jam. says:

    Can’t wait for Dell’s WP7 phone. Everything looks good except the price

  34. Avatar for Jhay Jhay says:

    It’s only logical since Apple has partnered with Globe for iPhone 4. Though it wouldn’t be complete ‘war’ if Globe will also offer WP7 powered phones.

  35. Avatar for Jam. Jam. says:

    Globe – Apple
    Smart – Microsoft
    Sun – ??? (sana android or meego) >:)

  36. Avatar for JunAlquis JunAlquis says:

    this is a counter with iPhones from Globe. haha

  37. Avatar for slighmd slighmd says:

    I wonder which devices would be available here? I got my eyes on either the HTC Trophy or the Samsung Omnia 7

  38. Avatar for Teknisyan Teknisyan says:

    Nice… so its gonna be MS and SMART vs Globe and Apple!!!

    Where in for a war!!!!

  39. Avatar for slighmd slighmd says:

    Wow am very excited! WP7 is officially coming. This could mean that the devices could be available locally in stores and the gray market anytime on november!

  40. Avatar for Joshua M. Joshua M. says:

    Smart move Microsoft

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