We finally have official word from Microsoft that Windows Phone 7 Series devices will not run any Windows Mobile apps. There has been speculation about this for months and Microsoft has not been forthcoming until now. Windows Phone 7 will be a complete break from the past and will start a new platform.
Charlie Kindel, Microsoft's Partner Group Program Manager for the Windows Phone Application Platform & Developer Experience, said via his blog:
"Previous Windows Mobile applications will not run on Windows Phone 7 Series."
This does not mean the end of Windows Mobile as he went on to say:
"We will continue to work with our partners to deliver new devices based on Windows Mobile 6.5 and will support those products for many years to come, so it’s not as though one line ends as soon as the other begins."
While continuing to support Windows Mobile may be a good thing, leave it to Microsoft to make things very confusing. Maybe they should have started Windows Phone Series with new number, rather than implying that it's a continuation of Windows Mobile 6.5.
Charlie Kindel, Microsoft's Partner Group Program Manager for the Windows Phone Application Platform & Developer Experience, said via his blog:
"Previous Windows Mobile applications will not run on Windows Phone 7 Series."
This does not mean the end of Windows Mobile as he went on to say:
"We will continue to work with our partners to deliver new devices based on Windows Mobile 6.5 and will support those products for many years to come, so it’s not as though one line ends as soon as the other begins."
While continuing to support Windows Mobile may be a good thing, leave it to Microsoft to make things very confusing. Maybe they should have started Windows Phone Series with new number, rather than implying that it's a continuation of Windows Mobile 6.5.