News · 12 Sep 2011 · MTW Editorial Team
S. Chapman did some detective work lately and found a handful of Employee Resumes and job ads that hint at the possibility that Windows Phone 8 aka Apollo will be based on the same Kernel as Windows 8. A few months ago I stumbled up a Windows Phone Division job ad that definitely made it sound like both OSes were closely related and today’s findings are even clearer. Here’s one example:
The responsibilities included program managing software update features to provide device update technology that enables end-users to update Windows Phone OS with a new set of phone features including bug fixes. In this role, I delivered a set of functional requirements specifications for the major update components to enable image updates for the next generation Windows Phone OS (aka Apollo). They are Packaging System, Imaging System, Flashing System, Update OS, Update Validator and Update Application. Also drove and tracked early investigations for the Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 OS convergence to create Mobile SKUs.
Here’s another one from an HTC Senior Product planner:
Owned the advanced planning relationship with Microsoft; drove Microsoft “Apollo” product planning discussion and led HTC cross-division feedback. Identified high potential partners and technologies; initiated/participated in new partnership discussions; ensured the relevant technology integrations and strategic alignment.Restructured communication channel between the planning and field communication team; greatly increased the sell-in material accuracy and increased the overall update rate by 50+% Spearheaded the 2012 Windows mobile phone product roadmap.
Now just add Nvidia’s CEO latest claims about future Windows Phone and Windows 8 application convergence support and SoC and I’m really starting to think that Microsoft has finally decided to have a top to bottom solution with Windows 8.
Chapman has also uncovered a mention of 2 Windows Phone 8 features:
Design and development of new features for Windows Phone-8. Implemented the ‘Voice-Compose’ (STT) and the ‘Read-Aloud’ (TTS) features for native email-clients.
Finally mention of the upcoming Tango 1 and Tango 2 Windows Phone 7.5 updates:
Launch readiness for account within region of responsibility (e.g. Mango, Tango1, Tango2, Apollo, etc.)
All of this obviously isn’t proof of anything but the possibility of having one kernel to rule them all is looking more and more like a reality. The only major downside to this is that current Windows Phone handsets and the new Mango ones coming out this fall may not have the required horsepower to handle Windows Phone 8. Anyway, this is all speculation at this point and we will probably hear more about Microsoft’s future mobile OS strategy this week.
source: ZDnet
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