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Possibility to change language in Windows Mobile

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I know this has been up before, but thought I would add this as an official request for a feature. If you would like to see this as well, you can add a "Me too" answer to this post.

Mobile phone users has grown used to the fact that you can buy a phone anywhere and just switch to the most used languages in the setttings of the phone. But on Windows Mobile, you are locked into the language of the phone. Most places, you will not even get a choice when you buy the phone. And it is not possible to buy a different language later because of licensing (it seems).

There are several possibilities to get out of this mess. People want choices, and it seems very weird that Windows Mobile should differ so much from the most mobiles on the market today. Pick up any Nokia or Sony Ericsson and you can pick a number of different languages.

Possibility 1: Make new languages downloadable totally independent of the phone manufacturers. And make it available for free. But no matter what language that is licensed, you should at least include English as an option. For me, this would mean I could either choose to show everything in Norwegian or English. This would work for me.

Possibility 2: Make general ROM's available for purchase in different languages. Or as a free download. I already have the license, I just need another language.

Windows Mobile suffers from from a serious flaw in the licensing philosophy. And this makes it very hard to deal with for frequent travellers, multi language people. Windows Mobile needs to be more similar to other mobile phone OS'es in this. It should be a "Anything you can do, I can do better!". So if Nokia give you the option of 5 different languages, Windows Mobile should have 10 different languages.

Please add the possibility to change language to the next Windows Mobile point release. Do not wait until the next major release. All the people that have a mobile phone today, deserve this on their phone.

Thursday, April 3, 2008 8:26 AM

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Unless you can find software that is compatible with your device kendomaster, you are out of luck.

Saturday, September 13, 2008 3:42 PM

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I couldn't agree more...

At least as far as greek language is concerned, the translation is hilarious.. I found it easier to understand english than my native language!
And yes, english should at least be a second option in every installation...

Saturday, April 19, 2008 10:09 AM
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I do agree; as soon as one has bought a licenced windows mobile application oine should have the liberty to choose the language.

i bought a HTC in the Nehterlands, but I prefer the english language. With me at least 10's of thousands of non duthc resedents would prefer the same.

Importing is not an issue because of all the custom and transport problems.

Just give us our (adult) right to decide for ourselves wich language to use!

Pieter
- Proposed as answer by godamevor Wednesday, October 7, 2009 6:26 PM
Sunday, April 27, 2008 10:40 AM
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I completely agree. It's a sure way to kill the product.

Saturday, May 17, 2008 11:06 AM
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I don't agree. It is bloating an OS that is struggeling for ROM space already. What is the use of adding/providing 120+ languages to a device where most travelling people want a WWE anyway? Internationalization goes beyond simple language files: you need to change complete GUI interaction for hebrew for example.

I'd rather have a cheaper phone or more space in ROM to add tools I really use.

Jaap

Wednesday, May 21, 2008 8:15 AM

Jaap van Ekris wrote:

I don't agree. It is bloating an OS that is struggeling for ROM space already. What is the use of adding/providing 120+ languages to a device where most travelling people want a WWE anyway? Internationalization goes beyond simple language files: you need to change complete GUI interaction for hebrew for example.

Jaap,

I absolutely agree that there is no point in adding 120+ languages to WM6. BUT - Do you know any phone at all that has that many languages? All I am asking is that I am allowed to either choose another installation file with the language I like, or that no matter what the "local" language is, you can always switch to English. This makes a lot of sense and would not bloat the software too much. To make the size smaller, I would love to see a configurator that could actually take things out of the package that got installed. Maybe a "pick-and-choose" tool that run on your PC and produce the final package to be installed. If you then could pick your favourite language through this method, we would all be happy :-)

Wednesday, May 21, 2008 9:06 PM

I don't know if my opinion counts any, but if someone reads this and it makes a difference then here it goes.

With so many languages spoken in one country I would figure that at least Microsoft would be smart enough to realize that people like and need choices. You would think they would build in a feature to change the language on the OS. More people own mobile phones in this country than they have home phone lines. There is a wider market for the Mobile OS then there is for Vista. There is such a great potential for the mobile technology that Microsoft needs to open their minds and use some common sense. Not all people prefer the same language as their operating system. It would not hurt to build in an option to atleast download one optional language at a time to change at our will.

Well....

Does anybody know how to change the language at all. buying a license, downloading windows, etc. Is there a way to change it or just you cant do it without spending $$$$?

Thursday, May 22, 2008 2:32 AM

I fully agree. If I was knowing it was not possible to change the language I should have not bought a Windows mobile device !!!

Sunday, June 1, 2008 5:31 PM

Absolutely true!!!

Friday, June 27, 2008 11:37 AM

I figure u r Greek as I am and I got a Smartphone and I can't work with it in Greek. They should at least have added the English option.

Friday, June 27, 2008 11:49 AM

Me Too

Saturday, June 28, 2008 6:04 PM

Lennyh boyg wrote:

I don't know if my opinion counts any, but if someone reads this and it makes a difference then here it goes.

It certainly counts for me Lennyh!

Lennyh boyg wrote:

Does anybody know how to change the language at all. buying a license, downloading windows, etc. Is there a way to change it or just you cant do it without spending $$$$?

Unfortunately I think the only option you have for language is to purchase the device with the language you need. This is the time for you to post those great thoughts in the suggestion box in these forums. The Windows Mobile team DOES READ THEM and all input is appreciated. Maybe, it will "ring a bell" in one of the team to keep it in mind for future versions.

Sunday, June 29, 2008 6:31 PM

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I agree... language of the country the phone is purchased plus an option for English... I just returned my Vodaphone 1615 purchased in Germany (on 3 year assignment...) and bought a standard Nokia phone & a PDA with Linux to get English...

Thursday, July 10, 2008 7:45 PM

Mee Too.

But I have something more to add.

I live in Singapore, our primary language is english here but many of us here uses Chinese to do texting as well.

I would like to see not only we have the option to chose other language, but also to input other language as how we do in many others phone OS. I don't quite see what's the difficulty of Microsoft doing this as they already have the language pack available for PCs.

Microsoft is a giant compare to others phone OS provider, but sad that they don't care about their customer needs. I just trade-in my Nokia N95 for Samsung SGH-i900 (or Omnia), the very moment I received SMS from my client from Hong Kong, I regreted it. After some search high and low, only to find out that there isn't any option available for others language texting.

Microsoft, please include Language Pack!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday, July 18, 2008 5:01 PM

I bought a mobile phone in France and am stuck with a French OS of Microsoft Mobile! May be i'll learn french some day but till then, I feel completely stuck. True that multiple language packs can impact the memory, and it's not a great idea. But Microsoft should start thinking big. Its important to treat people who use high-end PDA phones as professionals who "can" fix/change the OS if ever the need arises. The choice should be left to the individual to change the language or add another language. Let the user face the consequences of low memory it at all such a situation arises. To be stuck to a language on a mobile phone is just not right!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 2:22 PM

Just as I was considering buying an Omnia myself! Well, now that I know better I won't. It's sad as otherwise this is a very good phone. I'll have to wait some more for the Symbian INNOV8 then... Seems Microsoft has got it all wrong - once again.

Monday, August 25, 2008 9:41 AM

I have a PDA phone (Samsung SCH-i730) which I want to use it as a dictionary. I have downloaded the software, but I cant use it cause OS is English. can you or anyone direct me to how to change the OS to the other language? my computer is Vista OS. pls. help... thx bunch! K.

Friday, September 12, 2008 8:39 PM

Unless you can find software that is compatible with your device kendomaster, you are out of luck.

Saturday, September 13, 2008 3:42 PM

Moderator

I completely agree with you, there should be an option for the people to chose their language. They may have bought the mobile in another country or have got a gift from their sons, doughters or freinds that they live in another country, so at least there should be an english option for the OS to change language.

It's a need and the microsoft should consider it. Its not a good way of making people learn other languages. lol.

Sunday, September 21, 2008 3:58 AM

I understand what you are saying but there are a variety of unseen issues with language packs that require special tweaking to work. It is just not as simple as we might think.

Just my thoughts....

Sunday, September 21, 2008 2:34 PM

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Me too.

Every other phone have option of changing language. Nokia smartphones, iphone have language change and why not in windows mobile. I would have expected that with windows mobile one could add any language by just downloading an update.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 8:56 PM

Me too!!!

Saturday, October 18, 2008 6:49 AM

me too

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 4:31 PM

Obviously, it is a MAJOR management mistake. Only Bill Gates can lead this company successfully.

I can’t see any hope under this management. To see, what are the mistakes?

1) Windows VISTA, slower than XP, without search computer function, hard to use, disable full screen in DOS mode

2) Office 2007, force everyone to learn a new interface

3) Visual Basic 2008, Do you know the people still using VB6 because of your incompatible problem?

4) Cannot change language in windows mobile.

At least, you should provide English language as fundamental and make optional language pack for native language.

Saturday, November 1, 2008 8:07 PM

very true, me too

Sunday, November 23, 2008 10:46 AM

Just my thoughts....

Dr. Lau wrote:

1) Windows VISTA, slower than XP, without search computer function, hard to use, disable full screen in DOS mode

I like Vista and have 3 Vista machines (as well as 2 XP machines). I don't find any noticable speed issues. DOS .... not an issue for me.

Dr. Lau wrote:

2) Office 2007, force everyone to learn a new interface

I agee that there was a new learnig curve to conquer but now I love it.

Dr. Lau wrote:

3) Visual Basic 2008, Do you know the people still using VB6 because of your incompatible problem?

Nope

Dr. Lau wrote:

4) Cannot change language in windows mobile.

But you know that prior to purchase (or at least I did). I will admit that there are a lot of folks that need athe ability to change language but the interface is such that it is not as simple as it appears IMHO.

Sunday, November 23, 2008 10:35 PM

Moderator

I have same problem here: purchased a HTC Touch HD in Belgium and found out too late that it was in Dutch (and I'm not a native speaker of that language). There was no way I could change the language settings to English nor could I purchase/replace the OS version. I always used a Nokia before so it did not even occur to me to ask about the language feature as it was OBVIOUS one had a choice. This is absolutely frustrating and affecting to the worst my opinion about windows products. I join my voice to ask Microsoft to do something about this and fast before losing even more of its clients...

Sunday, November 30, 2008 6:51 AM

To sum up the response from Microsoft, Why do you so stupid to buy a mobile phone not in your language?

They are not going to help us. They live in a country mainly use one language. They don’t know the situation in Europe and Asia. They use several languages.

We are not begging you to improve your product. Just only a mobile phone, I can buy another one at anytime but not Microsoft. I will go iphone or Nokia next time.

Monday, December 1, 2008 5:30 PM

I can only get The Xperia in Germany in the German language Windows version. This makes it a whole lot worse than all of the other non-windows phones on the market where it is EASY! WinMo impossible!

Why must they port PC Windows problems to the phone world?

I'm very disappointed in Windows mobile. Sony Ericsson should be ashamed of themselves!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 3:32 PM

Hello

I just bought a samsung Omnia in netherlands and i can t understand dutch. WOuld like to switch to french or even in english please

DO you know any software or way to upgrade on vista to get a new rom

Anytime i try to upgrade on the samsung website it tells me wrong version check the device

Any help would be appreciate

This is my adress: mattdax16@hotmail.com

Thank you verymuch for your precious help

Matthieu

Wednesday, March 18, 2009 12:47 PM

I can only get The Xperia in Germany in the German language Windows version. This makes it a whole lot worse than all of the other non-windows phones on the market where it is EASY! WinMo impossible!

Why must they port PC Windows problems to the phone world?

I'm very disappointed in Windows mobile. Sony Ericsson should be ashamed of themselves!

agree... I had a N95 (symbian).... now I have a Xperia... and f*ck it;s in dutch... now way to change it... within 24 hours I regret I have chosen this phone, mainly because of MS WM.... hope my provider will restore my old simcard so I can back to N95 :D

Saturday, April 25, 2009 9:29 PM

me too ;)

Wednesday, July 22, 2009 9:48 PM

To bring this topic up to attention again!

I have to completely agree that at least English should be made available next to the local language.

Especially here in the Netherlands a lot of european headquarters of international companies are located, so there are a lot of people from different nationalities and not all of them can understand the dutch language.

The company i work for has just received HTC phones as company-phones, however since it is an american company and some employees are not able to speak dutch we will have to return all phones again and will have to go for a Symbian solution, since our phone provider cannot provide an english version of windows for these phones.

Thursday, July 30, 2009 8:47 AM

Microsoft is not listening. They are hearing, but that is different to listening. There are dozens of threads complaining of the same issue. English is lingua franca, all we want is the abitlity to change our OS into English while retaining the local language. When new comers to the smartphone industry are being cited as a better option because of this, and in such numbers, it seems like a good idea to at least say, "YES!! Thats a great idea. We CAN and WILL fix this, and save many many customers from switching from or never considering our platform." Is there even any news wether this will be taken care of in the next installment of WM?

A resounding ME TOO!

I really want this feature, along with, obviously, many many more #unsatisfied# customers.

Saturday, September 5, 2009 9:46 AM

I agree.

Is any one in Microsoft Land hearing our comments?

If they are, then when is the proposed change coming out so that we all can save mone by not having to fly to a country that sells PDAs with the OS that we need, then have to fly back.

I am not a Microsoft basher, and have used Microsoft products for over 25 years, and would like to have a little support with this problem.

Thank you.

Monday, September 7, 2009 8:27 AM

I think one source of the problem at Microsoft is that PMs and MVPs who make these decisions are non CJK/Indic speaking people. I guess the demography of Redmond/Seattle is different from that of Cupertino/San Jose (i.e. Apple).

Sure we knew that the WinMo handset we bought didn't support his out of the box. We also knew that there are 3rd party non-free apps that support a specific language. We also knew that these things don't work that well.

Well, if Microsoft thinks that's my problem, they are just begging me to buy an iPhone. The problem, for me, is that I am tied to a non-AT&T service. So, what choice do I have? Well, actually this is why I am beginning to get interested in Android (there will be a couple of them at least with my mobile service provider soon). And they might listen to their potential customers better than Microsoft. We'll see.

Why does Microsoft think that building multiple images are better than building just one (even if these features are add-ons)? How can that be more cost-effective? Would the Windows desktop team do the same? How did the Windows desktop team manage to do this when there are so much ignorance and indifference in Microsoft?

This is really puzzling...

Hong.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009 10:51 PM

I don't agree. It is bloating an OS that is struggeling for ROM space already. What is the use of adding/providing 120+ languages to a device where most travelling people want a WWE anyway? Internationalization goes beyond simple language files: you need to change complete GUI interaction for hebrew for example.

I'd rather have a cheaper phone or more space in ROM to add tools I really use.

Jaap

I don't know how iPhone/iPod Touch is doing this, but Apple is doing it and doing it really well. No separate downloads. The fonts displayed without a problem (at least CJK). Also, you can switch IME on the fly.

I don't think they had 120 languages, but I am sure no one uses 120 IMEs actively. I think there are Unicode fonts as well, which should take care of the fonts issues.

Personally, I don't care about the menu in non-Roman-alphabet character sets. That's localization and I am happy with English OS/menu texts. My pain is the websites, documents and keyboard inputs in CJK. Most CJK/Indic speakers in the U.S. market would be fine with this (which iPhone/iPod Touch do).

wchar has been around for so long, and I really don't understand the priority decision making at WinCE.

Hong.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009 11:07 PM

I guess the interpretation of the problem could be a bit ambiguous... To me, "change language" could mean these two things.

A) Ability to change the OS/UI texts into a different language on the fly.

B) Ability to display Unicode and change IMEs on the fly.

To me A) is not a big deal. And that is really market-specific issue, and not as immediate as the other one. For most CJK/Indic speakers in the U.S., this won't be a problem.

My main problem is B), which should be a basic OS I/O service (did I mention that iPhone/iPod Touch do this really, really well?). My ROI point for the Windows Mobile management for this is that there are quite a few CJK/Indic population in the U.S. (and I am sure at Microsoft too). And the investment is to support wchar/Unicode in the OS/system-level and providing a mechanism for IME switching. I am sure this requirement is there somewhere in some MRDs at Windows Mobile. It's just that its priority is marked low, which I feel is the problem.

Steve can't make fun of his own employees for using an iPhone/iPod Touch because their own products cannot (or is it "will not") fill their needs.

To a lot of us here in this thread, it feels like Microsoft / Windows Mobile team is actively not listening (the difference from "hearing" is the "action") to us. And this is really really frustrating.

Hong.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009 11:47 PM

+ 1
Choice of language should belong to the user, not to MS.

Thursday, October 22, 2009 3:01 PM

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Possibility to change language in Windows Mobile

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