Last month Microsoft posted a job for a Principal Development Manager to work with Windows Mobile 7. A key issue in the listing surrounded "updateability,"which re-enforced what Dieter had talked about in a podcast, namely that Microsoft was focusing on over-ther-air firmware updates.

Now comes a new job posting for a "Lead Software Development Engineer" that bolsters all of this:

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.

We are in Windows Mobile device update team. Our goal is to enable customers to anticipate and enjoy a predictable stream of new and improved capabilities for their Windows Phone via a Device Update service that is worry-free and easy-to-use. Broad scope and impact, deep technologies, engineering challenges, partner interfacing with OEMs and MS internal partners, and fast pace delivery are all part of our charter. In the agile development environment, you will be working with PM/architect/test and partner teams to deliver critical stack of the update solution. You will lead a team of smart developers to solve problems in mobile OS, PC applications, and interacting with web services.

It's too bad that we'll have to wait until Windows Mobile 7 for some FOTA goodness, but it will be interesting to see how application updates are rolled alongwide the Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

Ars Technica [via MTA]

Everyone's favorite smartphone fiend and CrackBerry.com contributor Bla1ze has found a juicy little nugget that points to BlackBerry getting over-the-air OS upgrades from AT&T. And that makes us wonder:

Where the heck are ours?!?!?

Flash back to last September, when Dieter got his hands on the silver Motorola Q9h. We first thought it was merely a new paint scheme, but it turns out the silver Q would be the first to support Firmware Over the Air updates, with the actual push coming from AT&T. But, as we all know, support is far from actual implementation, and we've never actually seen a FOTA update released. (And we can't write this post without mentioning that the Windows Update feature on WinMo phones still does nothing but take up space and fool the noobs.)

What's good for an operating system ultimately is good for a carrier. You wanna see Windows Mobile get a real leg up on everyone else when Windows Mobile 7 is eventually released? Make this happen. And then use it. (Please!)

Yesterday, when we reported on the Motorola Q11 images, we mentioned that we had some surprising Q9 news. It turns out that our initial dubious reaction to the Dapper Q9h Silver with Pinstripes wasn't really fair -- we got some hints about it during our hands-on at CTIA and arranged to find out what the real deal was with Motorola.

Well, now we know, and what we know is that the Silver Q9h is significantly better than the standard Q9h it's replacing. After the break, find out what's new on the Silver Q9h. Hint: it's there in the title and it's a capital B Big capital D Deal for Windows Mobile.

Also, we explain why on earth Motorola created the EDGE-only Q9e and try our best to lay out all the different versions of the Q9 without the aid of an Excel spreadsheet. Read on!

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