The Anglo File: Microsoft Hopes for Slip-Up at Psion

With Japanese electronics giant Matsushita (MC Quote) joining the next-generation mobile joint venture called Symbian, it would appear Microsoft's (MSFT Quote) chances of convincing the world's four largest mobile phone makers to drop Psion's EPOC operating system in favor of Windows CE are slim. Yet in public at least, Microsoft is still talking tough.

On May 25, Matsushita, the fourth-largest global player in mobile handsets, said it would join Motorola (MOT Quote), Nokia (NOK Quote), Ericsson (ERICY Quote) and Psion in the Symbian venture. This means that Symbian is now owned by companies estimated to have more than a 75% market share of the mobile handset market.

Matsushita's 9% stake in Symbian adds grist to the mill that Psion's EPOC operating system is much better suited than Windows CE to run small handheld devices. EPOC was originally designed to run small handheld computers made by Psion. Windows CE, it is widely held, is less efficient in terms of memory and requires more battery power to run the software. ...