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Barcelona - Software giant Microsoft launched the latest version of its mobile operating system at the Mobile World Congress on Monday in Barcelona.
The Windows Phone 7 Series was developed by the same people that designed its Zune portable media player.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said that while other mobile phone systems were imitating each other, Windows Phone 7 aims to provide something different.
"In a crowded market filled with phones that look the same and do the same things, I challenged the team to deliver a different kind of mobile experience," he said.
Microsoft has integrated its Xbox Live online gaming service into the Windows Phone system. Gaming occupied the lion's share of its mobile applications. Analyst firm Gartner predicts consumers will spend some $6bn on gaming in 2010.
Microsoft said the Windows Phone 7 Series phones are designed around six usage "hubs";
- People: brings together relevant content based on the person, including their 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: makes it easier to share pictures and video it to a social network in one step. It allows people to view their photos over the web, or from their PCs.
- Games: can deliver the Xbox LIVE experience on a phone, including Xbox LIVE-enabled games, universal leader boards, and the ability to see a gamer's Avatar, Achievements, Friends List and Gamer Profile.
- Music and video: can create an integrated media experience that combines Zune, content from your PC, online music services, and even a built-in FM radio into one place.
- Marketplace: will allow the user to easily discover and load up the phone with certified applications and games.
- Productivity: provides instant access to Office Mobile, SharePoint, and OneNote on the same phone that has your Outlook email.
MD of the SA-based technology consulting group WWW Strategy, Steven Ambrose, said that the new approach to mobile by Microsoft was "a bold move".
"Google Android, which is now on a dozen devices, is emerging as a potent competitor to the iPhone, BlackBerry, Symbian, and Microsoft platforms. Microsoft has realised that it needs to significantly raise the bar if it is to stay competitive," he added.
Ballmer reiterated that his company expects mobile devices to replace today's personal computers.
"The company has long suggested that mobile devices are set to overtake the PC as a computing device. It estimates that more than 1 billion mobile devices will access the internet in 2010," he said.
- Fin24.com
