New Job Posting Hints at New Windows Mobile 7 Features

This is pretty interesting. Ars has unearthed a new job listing for Microsoft for a Lead Software Development Engineer to lead the Windows Mobile device update team. Yes, there is actually a team called the Windows Mobile device update team.

Have you wished to see your Windows Mobile phone with new features “magically” show up without you buying a new one? Do you want to see greater and better quality and cool software delivered to your love ones’ Windows phones from just a click? If this is your dream, this is a place for you. Come join us to make this dream into reality! With the mobile industry’s strong growth and several competitors playing in the field, we are going to have a challenging but fun time to show customers what Windows phone can become in the next few years.

What does this mean? It may mean that Microsoft is seriously focusing on the phone update experience in Windows Mobile 7 (or more likely, beyond Windows Mobile 7). We could finally have over-the-air updates issued by Microsoft directly, which would be better than the iPhone scenario where users have to plug their device into iTunes to get the update. Or, the way that the job posting is worded, there could be optional updates (perhaps that require you to pay) that add features to your phone.

Microsoft has tried doing OTA updates before. Windows Update on Windows Mobile 6.1 and above was intended for use by the OEMs or carriers, but due to the complexity of using the system, no phones that we can think of use the update service.

Thanks to anjir, submitted via our news tip form.