HTC Diamond and Windows Mobile...parting company?

No, of course I don't have any insider info, nor any special insight but rather it is just a thought from lil' ol' me after some further reading on the forthcoming HTC Diamond. When you look at the revised TouchFlo interface it is looking less and less like a traditional windows mobile interface and let's not pretend that is a bad thing. In fact, it looks more like what I would expect Google Android to resemble and if memory serves me correct, HTC are in with the Android crew.

I wonder if HTC are gradually starting to distance themselves from the windows mobile system, each new device takes the staid old win mob interface and makes it more consumer friendly, more eye-candy-ish and less windows mobile like. Looking at the Diamond, in all honestly, does that look anything like a win mob interfaced device?

If HTC are in with the Android camp and the latter takes off, who is to say that their next generation of phones won't be more focussed on Android instead? If Android turns out to be very popular with end users, ie loads of sales, then HTC, being a business (bottom line), would be entitled to move away from win mob and into an area that would be more profitable for them. I'm pretty sure they have no obligation to Microsoft as regards releasing a set amount of devices on the platform and at the moment, sales-wise, Microsoft owe them more than they owe Microsoft for keeping the platform not only going but making it more useable. Notice also that the Diamond has a hike in camera spec to 3.2mp as if to move into Nokia camera-phone territory.

There are a lot of people out there buying phones who are just going for the most glitzy looking interface and HTC are smart enough to recognise that. What percentage of Nokia/Sony owners know they are running Symbian UIQ or S60 3rd edition or even care? Probably a small amount. HTC are coming in with the big eye candy look and judging by the amount of LG Viewty devices that have been sold, it is an attractive option for purchasers. Nokia doesn't have the interface glitz, most people buy their phones for the superb camera's and because they are familiar with the UI having had Nokia and Sony phones before. And of course, the iPhone is the king of glitz at the moment with its super swishy swooshy finger licking and finger swipin' UI

I don't think HTC will care one jot, and neither will their shareholders/financial backers, if they start selling 10 million phones to folk who are just buying for the looks over the same amount of sales to "power users" instead, unless HTC get some cut from the business style features/apps. Their devices and overall approach seems to be more geared towards casual consumers than business users....Note how they demonstrate in the videos the exciting stuff like picture viewing, music and videos over the rather duller "business" type applications. This could be signifying a possible change in future direction and if so it will be a worry for those many windows mobile users who see their devices as just devices to get dull stuff done.

Obviously, I have no real idea what their future plans are but this is just my opinion and no doubt those far more in the know than me will be able to shoot it down rather easily. Perhaps it is just wishful thinking on my part as that lovely interface seems wasted, to me, on windows mobile.