Microsoft’s Stinger to debut with Cingular

After years of tinkering in the workshop, Microsoft said on Monday it’s finally ready to release a commercial version of its Smartphone operating system, which has existed mysteriously under the code name Stinger.

The platform formerly known as Stinger is now the much more innocuous Microsoft Smartphone 2002 is scheduled to make its debut on Cingular’s GPRS networks in the latter half of the year, embedded inside a new Sendo phone.

Using a new OS kernel based on Windows, Microsoft believes it has created the ultimate mobile data platform--one that is distinct from the standard desktop and stylus-oriented palm top systems on the market but designed to seamlessly synchronize with common Microsoft-based software and products.

With its launch, Microsoft will be going head-to-head with European competitor Symbian, which commercially released its Mobile OS in GSM handsets last year. Symbian has yet to cross the Atlantic, however, and with its Cingular launch, Microsoft hopes to have the first true scalable smartphone OS in North America.

Microsoft announced the smartphone launch at CTIA2002, along with several PocketPC products optimized for wireless use. PocketPC is designed as Microsoft’s palm-based solution, focusing more on computing than communications. Microsoft still plans to take the PocketPC wireless, announcing deals with Sprint PCS and Audiovox to incorporate the OS into wireless PDAs.

The critical difference between Smartphone and PocketPC is that PocketPC is a computing platform with wireless features while Smartphone incorporates basic data features into a platform designed primarily for voice, a Mircrosoft spokeswoman said.

“Microsoft doesn’t believe there is one device that fits every person,” the spokeswoman said.