Windows Mobile 7 Won't Get Flash

According to an email sent to InformationWeek, Windows Mobile 7 will be the latest smartphone platform to launch with no Flash support. What's Adobe's story, here?Out of the blue I received the following email from an Adobe spokesperson. They said, "Microsoft and Adobe are working closely together. While the newest version of Windows Phone won't support Flash at initial availability, both companies are working to include a browser plug-in for the full Flash player in future versions of Windows Phone. More details will be shared at Microsoft MIX next month."

WIndows Mobile 7, which is expected to launch on Monday, February 15, will not be available on handsets until late in 2010. Adobe is saying that it won't have Flash ready for WinMo7 at launch (which is at least six months out). It's not clear if Flash support will come to WinMo7 at all.

Adobe is taking a lot of heat lately from the smartphone community. It has yet to bring Flash to Android, an operating system that's been available (at least to developers) for more than two years. Adobe has said that it is on track to bring Flash Player 10.1 to Android in the first half of 2010 -- but only to Android 2.1 and up. Who knows when it will really become available, and by requiring Android 2.1, it will leave a lot of users left out.

Word that Adobe won't support Windows Mobile 7 isn't the biggest surprise in the world, but it's not great news for Adobe or Microsoft. Microsoft will surely build its own Silverlight video software into Windows Mobile 7 (I'd be stunned if it didn't), but Flash support should be there, too.

What gives, Adobe?