It's been a busy ol' day in Microsoft Mobileland.
The software giant has unveiled its first wave of ground troops in its battle against Apple's increasing dominence of the smartphone market. And it needs to win this war if it's to keep a foothold in what will be the future of mobile computing.
It's confirmed that nine smartphones running its new Windows Phone 7 operating system will be on the market as soon as October 21.
Unlike Apple, Microsoft won't be manufacturing the phones itself, but it's laid down strict rules for minimum specs. The manufacturer partners at the moment are the usual suspects - HTC, Samsung, LG and Dell. Of the nine handsets announced today, six are definitely heading for the UK, with Vodafone, O2, Orange and T-Mobile all confirming they'll be selling some of the models.
A quick look at the devices shows, err, they, err, all look much the same. They all have large touchscreens with three buttons below. So far, all we really know about pricing in the UK is the phones will be free on £25-£30 a month contracts - if you're prepared to sell your mobile soul in a two-year deal.
While the hardware might not fire you up with lust, the new software is getting good grunts from people who've been allowed to play with it.
If you haven't followed the Windows Phone 7 story since it was first announced in March, here's a quick catch-up.
Microsoft used to produce the old Windows Mobile operating system on smartphones. It was clunky, slow, annoying, illogical, ugly and you had to use a stylus! Crap, in fact.
Microsoft made the fatal mistake of licensing Windows Mobile to any phone manufacturer that asked for it. It resulted in lots of under-powered phones struggling to use the OS smoothly.
Then, three years ago, along came the Apple iPhone: fast, logical, beautiful and effortless.
It knocked Microsoft out of the smartphone market and was quickly followed by the Google Android OS, which is still gaining ground. So the brains at Redmond eventually decided against giving in and are now fighting back. Windows Mobile 7 does away with the stylus and becomes user-finger-friendly. It hasn't simply copied the Apple iPhone software...it wants to be even more user-friendly.
And Microsoft have a couple of aces up their lab coats: Windows Mobile 7 will integrate with your PC's Office applications. You'll have Word, Power Point, Excel and all the others in your phone.
(Another and) And it will bring the power and popularity of Microsoft's XBox gaming to your phone.
People who've used it say it's good.
If you haven't followed the Windows Phone 7 story since it was first announced in March, here's a quick catch-up.
Microsoft used to produce the old Windows Mobile operating system on smartphones. It was clunky, slow, annoying, illogical, ugly and you had to use a stylus! Crap, in fact.
Microsoft made the fatal mistake of licensing Windows Mobile to any phone manufacturer that asked for it. It resulted in lots of under-powered phones struggling to use the OS smoothly.
Then, three years ago, along came the Apple iPhone: fast, logical, beautiful and effortless.
It knocked Microsoft out of the smartphone market and was quickly followed by the Google Android OS, which is still gaining ground. So the brains at Redmond eventually decided against giving in and are now fighting back. Windows Mobile 7 does away with the stylus and becomes user-finger-friendly. It hasn't simply copied the Apple iPhone software...it wants to be even more user-friendly.
And Microsoft have a couple of aces up their lab coats: Windows Mobile 7 will integrate with your PC's Office applications. You'll have Word, Power Point, Excel and all the others in your phone.
(Another and) And it will bring the power and popularity of Microsoft's XBox gaming to your phone.
People who've used it say it's good.
And, talking of people, guess who turned up at the Microsoft event in London where the phones were launched.....admitted Apple addict Stephen Fry. "Yes, I love Apple," he said. "But I want diversity". He says the new Windows Mobile 7 is "loveable".
Now...how do you spell his name.....is it with a ph or a v......
Comments