A few days months ago, Stacey reported on the rumors that Microsoft is building a Microsoft-branded smartphone based on Nvidia’s Tegra chipset. It seems those rumors might be true. Doug Freedman, chip analyst with research firm Broadpoint AmTech, wrote in a note to his clients this morning (emphasis mine):
we have been able to identify NVDA’s second handset design win for the Tegra Applications Processor (our Jan. 12th note identified HTC). We believe that Tegra is also designed into an upcoming Microsoft smartphone (with a Qualcomm baseband solution). We believe that MSFT may announce one of the new phones at 3GSM.
Freedman goes on to say that the company is looking to support more than just the Windows operating systems and is also looking to support either RIM or Apple.
Should we have to pick between the two we would favor AAPL support as a building block of Tegra is from PortalPlayer, a past supplier to AAPL iPod products.
It wouldn’t surprise me. At a recent dinner, Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang was pretty open about his company’s efforts to sell into Apple.
Oh how cool! Can wait to check it out.
Is there any other data that leads you to believe this is a Microsoft *branded* smartphone and not just another Microsoft *powered* smartphone (i.e. Windows Mobile)?
I hope not…they failed miserably with their Zune MP3 line and many of theie branch-off projects haven’t fared too well. They need to stick to their strength and give Win7 their all.
This is interesting. I never knew of this company blog, until I saw someone’s page on Facebook. Well, glad I found it :-)
Shawn
What the hell? Please tell Microsoft that Apple is planning to create new “quilts”, yes quilts and I am sure that Microsoft will soon follow.
Screensleuth. Microsoft branded hardware has always been great.
I have the zune and in my eyes its a much better music player then my mp3 player. (itsa not selling due to no advertising and not being sold in europe)
I also have a microsoft router which at the time had one of the best signal ranges . The 360 besides its red ring of death is a good console.
Microsofts problem on most of its products is not the hardware but its Marketing of them.
EE Times reported yesterday that Microsoft flatly denied they were looking into making a smartphone, simply because if it did, it would drive customers to Google and RIM.
I love how all the apple fan boys can’t stand any other company to come out with products.These guys are so bigotted it is pitiful. You guys should be Part of the Main Stream Media,you are just as biased as they are. APPLE is not god and neither is your BO man so stop drinkin the kool aid dumbasses.
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