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Microsoft Unveils Windows Phone 7 Lineup

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the we-can-do-it-too dept.

adeelarshad82 writes "Microsoft officially unveiled its Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system, announcing that it will be available on a total of five devices in the US. Windows Phone 7 handsets from AT&T and T-Mobile will begin shipping in November, while devices from Sprint and Verizon will be available next year. In all, Microsoft announced nine Windows Phone 7 phones, the remainder of which will be available in Canada, Mexico, the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Singapore, and Australia. It will debut in some European markets on Oct. 21. While early signs are encouraging for Windows Phone 7, it is being deemed as do or die for the future of Microsoft's business."

11 of 391 comments (clear)

  1. Before you scoff, Try it by ChicagoDave · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I've played with a developer phone in the last month and I'm currently an iPhone user. I have to say I think they're on to something. I like the iPhone, but I'm probably going to switch to WP7 in November. The integration between app and data is an order of magnitude higher than any other phone out there.

    --
    http://chicagodave.wordpress.com
    1. Re:Before you scoff, Try it by UnknowingFool · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The problem is that MS is entering into a very crowded market with few advantages. They can't rely on existing WinMo users because more of them are business users which is different from the consumer focused Windows Phone 7. It's pretty much surrendering the business crowd to Blackberry in that regard. It seems like a decent, solid OS but it starts out way behind Apple and Android. There also isn't any features that entices most people to get it. There are not many apps which uses the same walled garden approach as Apple. As with anything new (especially MS), I advise people to wait after the 1st gen for them to work out the kinks.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
  2. Re:Seriously? by Penguinisto · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I don't think they're shooting as much for marketshare, as they are to enforce licensing on everyone who is not Apple (and Apple while they're at it). IF they can't sell phones, they'll still make money off of the mobile industry (see also their wee lawsuit).

    --
    Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
  3. Re:Seriously? by tekiegreg · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Tend to agree. As a devoted .NET developer who recently got a droid and (via third party app) watched my droid sync up with my office Exchange Server nearly instantly. I'd been hanging on to my Windows Mobile 6.1 for quite some time, but moving from that to Droid was like taking 20 steps ahead in technology.

    Mind you Droid is not without a few quirks,but the differences are phenomenal. Droid is clearly the better platform.

    --
    ...in bed
  4. Re:Do or die? by tokul · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Or buy Nokia or RIM out of couch-cushion change

    They already bought Danger Incorporated. If they buy RIM and repeat T-Mobile Sidekick disaster, PHBs should learn something about MS.

  5. missing some features by sr8outtalotech · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I saw a demonstration of Windows 7 Mobile last week. Microsoft decided to remove the VPN client and remote desktop features that were available in previous versions of Windows Mobile. But the award for lamest concept by a large margin was replacing cut and paste with auto-complete. That didn't go over to well during the Excel Viewer demonstration where people were asking how you transferred formulas from one cell to another.

  6. Why not go straight to Android? by guidryp · · Score: 3, Interesting

    "And the iPhone seems to have gotten a little long in the tooth, falling behind Android in many areas, feeling very rigid and "controlled", with few choices."

    I don't know if you haven't really read anything about WP7, but it is cloning the Old iPhone, no "cut n' Past", no real multi-tasking, no flash, no side loading applications.

    If iPhone "rigid and controlled" is bothering you, it won't change much in WP7, why not go to Android. What do you think WP7 will give you that Android won't?

  7. Here is my opinion by Yuioup · · Score: 4, Interesting

    My problem with Microsoft is that they insist on programming everything in-house and lock you in to in-house networks and in-house apps. I prefer a rich ecosystem like the iPhone and Android where people can make their own apps and have them integrate into your social networking life.

    Microsoft - once again - seems to want to make all your decisions for you and shove all their products down your throat.

    I seriously wonder how many Microsofties will eat their company's dogfood and geniunely love it.

    Y

  8. Re:Seriously? by shadowrat · · Score: 3, Interesting

    They have XBox Live integration. I don't really understand it because i never got into live, but i have friends who love their xboxes dearly. They would do just about anything to have a phone that lets them see their buddies' achievements not to mention allow them to get new achievements. Some of them are even willing to buy out their iphone contracts to move to windows 7 phone.

    That "killer" feature strikes me as something of a double edged sword though. Most analysts think a phone platform has to win enterprise adoption to really be successful, but what CTO for a large business is going to see xbox live integration as a selling point? Sure it's also got active sync and great exchange integration, but so does blackberry.

    personally, i'd be interested in getting a device if there is an analog to the ipod touch (something i also wish existed for android, and no, i don't consider the weird chinese android devices an option). afaik the zune HD is not win 7 phone, yet. I have no interest in breaking my current phone contract though.

  9. Re:Do or die? by Anon-Admin · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Dude, they will return to 80's tactics.

    #1) Put out an "Update" that breaks connectivity between the desktop and the Iphone and Droid Phone.
    #2) When the two fix the phone to make it work again do number 1
    #3) repeat #1-#2 several times.
    #4) Release WP8 pointing out that there phone never has problems communicating with your desktop
    #5) .......

  10. Re:MS Garbage Products: Xbox,Kin,Bing,... by RingBus · · Score: 4, Interesting

    "Some people had hardware issues -- oh no"

    A 65 percent failure rate on a piece of consumer hardware?

    A 1 percent failure rate would be insane. That would be 1 out of every 100 consoles consistently failed. Well made consoles like the PS3, Wii, PS2, GameCube have failure rates in the sub .1 percent range.

    The Xbox 360 is a piece of garbage. Microsoft knew it was defective before they rushed it out the door back in 2005 and did nothing to fix the inherent design defects.

    Microsoft deserves the hate of gamers and the console world. They are reaping what they sowed. The console world has prided itself that it was gaming that just worked. You plugged your new console in at the start of a generation and it kept working to the end of the generation. Microsoft' piece of garbage Xbox 360 made a mockery of that concept.