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| UPDATED: 2006-04-05 |
 Microsoft Rings Up Massive Mobile Order 
By: David Utter 2006-04-05 The US Census Bureau has ordered 500,000 devices equipped with the Windows Mobile operating system for census takers to use in 2010. When the census taker shows up on the doorstep of someone who has not mailed back the survey the Bureau sends out every ten years, he or she will enter information into a mobile device instead of writing it down on a paper form. That device will be a specific purpose piece of equipment, solely for recording census data and placing it directly in the Census Bureau's system, AP reported. Microsoft (NASD:MSFT) will be part of the deal that the Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) won to provide those devices. Harris disclosed the deal recently, and mentioned several big technology names as participants in building the Bureau's Field Data Collection Automation (FDCA) program: Accenture, Unisys, Dell, Sprint, and Oracle among others. But Microsoft was not mentioned at the time as part of the $600 million, five-year project. The devices will be assembled in Taiwan by High Tech Computer Corp and installed with Windows Mobile. Although the devices won't have the full capabilities of a typical Windows Mobile device, the win for Microsoft represents business that rival Research In Motion (NASD:RIMM) will not receive. Microsoft has been pushing its Windows Mobile 5.0 as an alternative to the Blackberry popularized by RIM. Microsoft has had some success in entering the market after numerous fits and starts. They picked up a deal to provide the operating system for Palm's (NASD:PALM) Treo smartphones, as well as the same for Motorola's (NYSE:MOT) Q device. The Q has been very elusive, though. The Chicago Tribune reported how Motorola missed its projected first-quarter launch window for the Q. Many believe Verizon (NYSE:VZ)is the "launch customer" testing the Q before making it available to consumers. The device should complement Verizon's high-speed wireless services and appeal to always-on business users. Nokia ((ADR)NYSE:NOK) has plans to take on the Blackberry as well. Its E61 Smartphone has already been launched in the EMEA markets, but is yet to debut in the US. --- Tags: Microsoft, Harris Corp, RIM, Palm, Motorola, Verizon, Nokia Add to | DiggThis | Yahoo! My Web | PreFound.com View All Articles by David Utter About the Author: David Utter is a staff writer for InternetFinancialNews and WebProNews covering technology and business. |
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