If you’ve been paying attention to Mobile World Congress at all today, you’ll find that the big news is Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 Series (as they are now calling it). This is the latest version of Microsoft’s phone operating system and it is a pretty big change from the previous version. A lot of people are hoping that this will raise the bar for what people expect from a Windows Mobile phone, and update the OS to be competitive with the rest of the players (iPhone OS, Android, Palm WebOS, etc.) Microsoft has thrown away just about everything from the previous version and started anew which a highly animated and stylistic interface (it’s about time.) If you’ve used the Zune HD, you might recognize many of the interface concepts. Check out a video below:
I could tell you guys and gals all about Windows Phone 7 Series here (annoying name, isn’t it?) but the folks over at Engadget are already all over WP7S with plenty of great pictures and videos, so I’ll let them take over in that regard.
What this post is here for, however, is to theorize what this may mean for the MID/MIDPhone segment. What’s interesting about Windows Mobile is that the OS has never really been featured on any modern media-centric devices that aren’t phones. Considering that the word “phone inch is actually in the name of Microsoft’s latest version of Windows Mobile, it’s unlikely that we’ll see it pop up in non-phone devices. Is Microsoft creating a silly artificial limit by dedicating this OS to phones? Possibly.
I can’t imagine that they don’t want as much consumer mobile device market share as possible. Take Android for instance — it is the OS of choice on just about any MID (and plenty of phones as well) these days. As smartphones and MIDs continue to meld together, WP7S might just get edged out if they don’t open it up to other devices. Perhaps MS wants to protect the image of Windows Mobile this time around by only letting it run on approved devices to ensure a great user experience? We’ll have to wait to see exactly what happens, but I think MS will be running into a wall of questions such as, “What exactly constitutes a phone? inch, as we head into the future. Will a device that relies exclusively on 3G for VoIP calling be considered a phone in Microsoft’s eyes, and thus be allowed to run WP7S?
I have the same feeling Chippy. They stated very clearly that phone is not a PC yesterday and the more we know the more it looks like the OS will focus only on phones (small, pocketable devices).
That basically means that Microsoft will leave MID/Smartbook… market to Android, Apple and possibly MeeGo.
It’s a pitty really, as the UI of 7 Series could be quite nice on larger displays – provided it would scale well.
And let us not forget the Courier which has received no attention of late. What OS do you think that was (will?) be running?
Chippy nailed my thoughts EXACTLY, MS is a day late & dollar short.
now that it seems the MID market could take off with Android, MS was so focused on cloning Apple & their phones that they even put the word “Phone” in their OS. which all but eliminates their chances in the MID market, once again falling short in seeing the future.
my guess is now, that once again in an attempt to catch up MS will release a separate version of their OS that removes the word phone & adds something else.
im actually a big MS fan, i love W7 on my netbook. but its hard not to see what other people have been saying for years. MS is truly an incompetent company that has only ever done 2 things well, Windows & Office.
Microsoft is not any stranger to having companions galore within the cellphone enterprise, but its lineup of manufacturers for the upcoming, surprisingly promising Home windows Phone 7 launch isn’t any less impressive. After plenty of rumoring, Microsoft has confirmed that Dell and HTC shall be making Home windows Cellphone 7 telephones, in addition to ASUS, LG, and Samsung who had already been confirmed. All of those firms should have their stamp on hardware by the tip of the 12 months, with the launch of the OS nonetheless vaguely slated for the “holidays” We’ve little doubt that every one 5 producers can construct some compelling, sexy hardware, however we’re significantly enthused to see Dell actually moving into the sport after the spectacular Streak and that drool worthy leak a little while back. read more at http://www.wp7forum.com followers group.