Smartphones Debut in North America

AT&T Wireless and Verizon Wireless have become the first two North American cellular carriers to offer phones running Microsoft’s Windows Mobile Software for Smartphones. This move gives Microsoft’s Smartphone efforts a major boost, especially since the phones come from cell phone manufacturing heavyweights Motorola and Samsung, the second and third largest cell phone vendors, behind Nokia.

AT&T is offering the new Motorola MPx200, which runs on the company’s GSM digital network and GMRS data services. Verizon is offering the Samsung SCH-i600, which runs on Verizon’s CDMA digital network and 1xRTT data services. Although the Windows Mobile 2003 platform is now available to manufacturers, both phones are based on the older Windows Mobile 2002 Smartphone software. In theory, the carriers could make software upgrades available for these devices in 2004 once they have undergone testing, but neither has announced plans to do so.

Motorola and Samsung follow Taiwan-based HTC, Mitac, and Compal as early Smartphone vendors. Prior to the North American launch, France-based Orange was the largest carrier to offer Windows Smartphones.