Look who's running Windows Phone (and Zune devices) engineering now
Just ahead of its Windows Phone 7 (Series) unveiling on February 15 at the Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona, Microsoft is making public information about some of the new bosses running things there.
Windows Compact Edition already is "at the heart" of both Windows Mobile phones and Zune HD devices. But the wording of Myerson's bio leads me to believe there's even more synergy between these groups. Hello "Zune Phone" (a k a Windows Phone 7 offerings running Zune music/video services....?
(Windows Phone 7 increasingly is sounding like the new name for Windows Mobile 7. If so, the new branding is a departure for Microsoft, which has been using "Windows Mobile" to refer to the name of its mobile operating system, but "Windows Phone" to refer to OEM-supplied phones running Windows Mobile.)
Myerson most recently was head of the Exchange team, a position he held for eight years. He left that position in 2008 to join the Windows Mobile team, but in an until-now-publicly-unspecificed role. (Rajesh Jha took over his job when he moved to Mobile. ) Myerson joined Microsoft in 1997, after Microsoft acquired his company, Interse Corporation.
I've also gotten a couple of tips about Softie Brian Arbogast's recent "retirement." Twenty-four-year Microsoft veteran Arbogast, as of 2009, was the Microsoft Corporate Vice President of Mobile Services. In that role, Arbogast was in charge of "the mobile services strategy, platform, and experiences for Windows Live and Windows Mobile, as well as the strategy, platform, and integrated services for network operators and other syndication partners." Because Microsoft is woefully behind in updating its executive bios on its corporate Web site, he is still listed as holding that title. I've asked company officials for official confirmation that he's gone. No word so far.
(Update: February 15: Arbogast is "on sabbatical," according to Microsoft officials. No word on when he is due back or what his position will be when/if he returns.)
According to my tipsters, services like Windows Marketplace for Mobile and MyPhone -- both of which we should hear a lot about this week -- are now under Myerson, as a result of Arbogast's alleged departure. Again, waiting for official word to confirm that one....
Microsoft recently shared another Windows Phone exec's new title and responsibilities. Joe Belfiore is Corporate Vice President in charge of Windows Phone Program Management. Belfiore's responsibilities include "the design and software product definition of forthcoming generations of Windows phones and Zune devices." Belfiore is going to be one of the keynoters at Microsoft's Mix 2010 conference in mid-March, the venue where the Softies are slated to unveil the development strategy and tools for Windows Phone 7.
Microsoft is slated to provide an update on its mobile strategy on Monday during a press conference that is slated to begin at 9 a.m. ET. If you want to follow along on a live blog, I'd suggest tuning in to the one that istartedsomething's Long Zheng and Neowin's Tom Warren are running.