BetaNews provided an editorial today in which they give a blistering review on how Microsoft has lost their focus within the mobile industry. Charges made include the Redmond giant being unable to provide consistent branding and selling a platform tries too hard to act as a second desktop computer. The worst of the complaints made had to be the claim that Windows Mobile development is all but stagnant in innovation, while lacking vision and a real clear way to compete with other mobile platforms.

What does this mean to you?

If you are in the market for a new phone for business use, you would be foolish to put much stock into today’s Windows Mobile platform. Despite it providing much of the functionality that users have grown to appreciate over the years, it still lacks the speed and dependability seen with alternatives such as RIM’s BlackBerry phones. Based on my own usage, the only thing that draws me to using Windows Mobile is access to MS Office products. Outside of this, it is slow, tired and in dire need of an update. Instead, consider a BlackBerry or an iPhone.