Microsoft has seen competition from all sides in recent years. First of all, Windows has been given hellish reviews (until version 7) Zune has seen its fair share of problems, thankfully integration with other Mcrosoft products is keeping it alive and on the mobile front, although still popular among business users, Windows Phone 6.5 has been seeing a decline in market share in the wake of Android, iOS and Blackberry. That said, Microsoft is making a bold move on that front with the introduction of Windows Phone 7 (formerly known as Windows Phone 7 Series).
Windows Phone 7
Announced earlier this year, Windows Phone 7 is set to bridge the divide on the consumer front that Microsoft has been experiencing. While Windows Phone 6.5 still remains very popular, its market share is declining and instead of rebuilding it, Microsoft decided to throw the towels in and start from scratch. But before we go into our WP7 preview, we will state that Microsoft has made it clear that because of its heavy corporate base, WP6.5 will not be leaving anytime soon. Since WP7 is a more locked down platform and will not allow venders to customize it to the extent of WP6.5, Microsoft has said that WP6.5 will continue to exist until WP7 matures to a state where the corporate world will be more willing to accept it.
Office Hub in Windows Phone 7
One of the big changes in WP7 is the whole interface. Those familiar with the Zune HD media player will easily see the resemblance in terms of navigation and theme. Microsoft is making a bold statement by putting something out there that is completely different from what Palm (now HP), Apple and Google is offering. While WP7 will have an app store called Marketplace, Microsoft is pushing the ideas of an integrated experience, and that is where hubs come in. For instance instead of having a cooking app for the chefs among us, you can customize a cooking hub that pulls information from multiple sources as well as apps etc. And instead of jumping from one app to the next, you can glide from one hub to the other.
Zune in Windows Phone 7
That said, Microsoft is also integrating many of its other platforms into WP7. Xbox gets full integration as well as achievements and points. Better off, many popular Xbox titles will have mobile versions that you will be able to play on your phone and transfer your progress to the console later on. Zune also gets full integration and there really isn’t anything more to add about that if you are familiar with the platform.
Xbox Action with Windows Phone 7
Last but not least we’ll touch on some of the things that have left WP7. First of all, devices will have to adhere to a stick specification. No more OEM customizable skins or themes. All apps installed on the device will have to be done through the Marketplace so that means .cab files days are numbered. Last but not least, Microsoft has installed a kill switch so it can remotely remove apps from devices if it should catch something it missed in their verification process.
The first WP7 phones are set to hit in the fourth quarter of 2010. So stay tuned for more info as it arrives as well as our reviews of specific devices.
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