Attempting to duplicate the success of ‘Windows 7’, the latest smartphone platform from Microsoft was unveiled this week in New York City. On display were nine phones from Dell, HTC, LG and Samsung. Microsoft is positioning Windows Phone 7 as “A Different Kind Of Phone”.
Here are a few of the launch phones:
Microsoft’s approach with Windows Phone 7 is to focus on quickly accessing common functions where the iPhone and Android are more application focused. Microsoft’s reasoning is you shouldn’t need to worry about what application you need. The approach is to use a series of Hubs to accomplish common tasks quicker.
Microsoft’s Official Hub listing:
•People. This hub delivers an engaging social experience by bringing together relevant content based on the person, including his or her live feeds from social networks and photos. It also provides a central place from which to post updates to Facebook and Windows Live in one step.
•Pictures. This hub makes it easy to share pictures and video to a social network in one step. Windows Phone 7 Series also brings together a user’s photos by integrating with the Web and PC, making the phone the ideal place to view a person’s entire picture and video collection.
• Games. This hub delivers the first and only official Xbox LIVE experience on a phone, including Xbox LIVE games, Spotlight feed and the ability to see a gamer’s avatar, Achievements and gamer profile. With more than 23 million active members around the world, Xbox LIVE unlocks a world of friends, games and entertainment on Xbox 360, and now also on Windows Phone 7 Series.
• Music + Video. This hub creates an incredible media experience that brings the best of Zune, including content from a user’s PC, online music services and even a built-in FM radio into one simple place that is all about music and video. Users can turn their media experience into a social one with Zune Social on a PC and share their media recommendations with like-minded music lovers. The playback experience is rich and easy to navigate, and immerses the listener in the content.
• Marketplace. This hub allows the user to easily discover and load the phone with certified applications and games.
• Office. This hub brings the familiar experience of the world’s leading productivity software to the Windows Phone. With access to Office, OneNote and SharePoint Workspace all in one place, users can easily read, edit and share documents. With the additional power of Outlook Mobile, users stay productive and up to date while on the go.
Microsoft also demonstrated their Live Tiles feature where applications will display updates and relevant data in real time without having to go through the navigate-to-app->launch-app->check-for-update cycle that is common on iPhones and Android.
Here is a demonstration of using Live Tiles to customize the Windows Phone 7 Home Screen
The iPhone is 4 years old now and and while Apple has added a few new features (folders, app switching, and the app. store), it hasn’t changed significantly since launch. Apple only seems to add features when they feel threatened by other vendors. Their recent additions of Fast App Switching (Apple’s version of multi-tasking) was a response to the multi-tasking that is built into Google’s Android phones. Recent relaxing of App. Store rules also appears to be in response to the open nature of the Android Application Marketplace.
Windows Phone 7 is Microsoft’s first attempt at a modern Smartphone on par with iOS and Google’s Android.
Microsoft’s message is Windows Phone 7 will get you in/out of what your trying to do and back to your real life quickly. Here is an example of that message…
