Microsoft Buys Sidekick Maker Danger

This is big news:

Microsoft Corp. today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Danger Inc., the company responsible for the software and services powering many popular consumer handsets. The acquisition will align Danger’s nearly 10 years of expertise in the mobile consumer space with Microsoft’s vision to provide innovative and compelling mobile experiences to a growing base of customers.
- [press release]

So Windows Mobile has an image of being a business user / power user / techno user OS, eh? How will Microsoft deal with that? With a giant influx of talent from the group that makes the favorite device of children and celebrity endorsers everywhere, of course.

Robbie Bach, who heads up the division that runs WinMo (and entertainment devices), had a chat with PCMag about the deal. The Sidekick is going to stick around as it is (at least for awhile). What Microsoft is really interested in, it seems, is Danger's services - even though the Sidekick is the simplest of smart phones these days, it does a stellar job of storing its data “in the cloud” -- exactly where it belongs.

Bodes well for Windows Mobile's future consumer appeal!