New York/Vienna (pte/10/11/2010/3:45 p.m.) – Just in time for the Christmas business, Microsoft has given the long-awaited starting signal for the Windows Phone 7 era. The company announced today, Monday, that various smartphones with the new operating system will be available on the market from October 21st. Around 60 mobile phone providers in 30 countries as well as well-known device manufacturers such as HTC, Samsung and LG were recruited for the launch.
Three new HTC smartphones
In addition to the official presentation by Steve Ballmer in New York, Microsoft used today worldwide to present the first devices together with local mobile phone providers. In Vienna, for example, HTC let the cat out of the bag. With the HTC 7 Trophy, the HTC 7 Mozart and HTC 7 HD, the Taiwanese cell phone manufacturer is there with three new devices right from the start. But Samsung with the Omnia 7 and LG with two Optimus 7 versions are also available with their devices.
Unlike Windows Mobile, Microsoft's specifications regarding hardware and user interface for Windows Phone 7 are strict. As already presented at the Mobile World Congress at the beginning of the year (pressetext reported: http://pressetext.com/news/100215030/ ), the start screen is made up of various tiles that combine individual programs as well as interactive services. With these so-called hubs, which are designed to be reminiscent of widgets, Microsoft wants to place the most important information on the start screen without having to call up programs individually.
Regardless of this swipe at Apple's iPhone, it quickly becomes clear during the presentation how influential the once ridiculed challenger was for the entire industry. As in the Apple universe, applications can only be downloaded via Microsoft's own Marketplace. The overall concept is also very reminiscent of Apple. In addition to the strong focus on applications, Microsoft is integrating the previously only moderately successful Zune environment on Windows Phone 7, including a connection to its own music and video store. When connected to the Xbox Live platform, smartphones are transformed into mobile video consoles.
Great developer feedback
Microsoft doesn't want to let the dampened expectations of market analysts like Gartner, who expect Windows Phone 7 to have a market share of just under four percent in the medium term, spoil their mood at the moment.
"The competition is great, no question about it. At the same time, we see enormous interest from the developer community in Windows Phone 7," explains Microsoft Austria Managing Director Petra Jenner in an interview with pressetext. In Austria alone, the developer tools have already been downloaded over 40,000 times. If Microsoft wants to survive on the market in the long term, a functioning developer community and the resulting applications are key. The mobile counterattack comes rather late, given the rapidly increasing Android market share and the unbroken popularity of the iPhone. At the same time, Microsoft can take full advantage of its mobile operating system in many ways.
Some trump cards up your sleeve
In addition to the focus on productivity services, such as the free integration of a mobile office client and the connection to the company's own cloud service Sky Drive, the close integration of Xbox content and the Zune environment will appeal to users. In addition, Microsoft also benefits from smartphone manufacturers' increased expertise in terms of touchscreen and performance and can therefore come up with a number of interesting devices right from the start.
Notes:
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