One way to get people to use all the wireless and content services available to them is to make the handsets best able to take advantage of these features cheaper. Of late, smartphone platform providers have touted moving from dual to single core architectures as a way to lower costs and get their products into the hands of more consumers and enterprises.

Symbian unveiled a deal with Freescale Semiconductor last week to do just that, while competitor Microsoft announces its single-core plan today at 3GSM in Barcelona, Spain today.

Microsoft says handset manufacturers Amoi Electronics, High Tech Computer and Sagem Communication are developing new Windows Mobile-based Smartphones using a single core Texas Instruments (TI) chipset (OMAPV1030) previously only available for feature phones—traditionaly much cheaper - and less powerful - than rich-interface smartphones.

Cost reductions in the TI single core solution for Windows Mobile result from higher levels of integration, more aggressive process technology and better system partitioning; thus enabling smart device capabilities at feature phone prices, according to the companies.

"TI's integrated and optimized OMAPV1030 solution was designed to deliver enhanced features at a reduced cost," said Edgar Auslander, general manager of worldwide strategy and corporate development for TI's wireless business unit. "Combined with Windows Mobile software from Microsoft, the OMAPV1030 will enable handset manufacturers...to bring advanced multimedia and productivity features to mainstream mobile phones."

The aim is to spur smartphone market growth, the Microsoft variety, of course. Symbian's single core play put the emphasis on 3G network support in the mid-tier market, while the software giant has mob-e-mail particularly in mind for devices built on its new TI architecture.

Analyst firm Gartner predicted last year that by 2008 wireless e-mail would become standard fare for all smartphones, existing right alongside voice communications. By the end of 2006, there will be at least 16 million business and consumer users. Two years later, half of all employees who access e-mail via PCs will do so wirelessly as well.

Microsoft already holds the desktop component firmly in the palm of its hand. With today's announcement, it would like to make the second - wireless - part more appealing to manufacturers, carriers, content providers, and consumers for Windows Mobile handsets worldwide as well.

Expect to see the first Windows Mobile single core feature-smartphones within the next year.