After all the fan-fare and hype, Microsoft has finally unveiled Windows Mobile 7 in a huge event in New York.
The original Windows Mobile was the early leader in smart-phones back in the day of the old O2… it was fiddly, needed a stylus and crashed a lot, but for all that it was pretty cool. From a user perspective it felt like MS had basically taken the desktop OS and ported it across to the small screen – so it had a lot of power but was also a bit of a pain to use.
Then along came Blackberry, iPhone and, more recently, Android and it seemed the old Microsoft was left in the dust. Now they are reportedly spending over $1 billion to promote Windows Mobile 7. They have support from many of the leading handset makers including HTC, Samsung and LG… who all do Android phones and Samsung now has it’s own operating system called Bada on the market. So it’s a safe and good bet for phone makers – they have another tool to take on Apple with. How is it for users?
There are definitely some cool features for both business and individual users… integration into office and Exchange server is good for business. Integration with the XBox and on-line gaming could be pretty cool for consumers. There will be lots of apps and MS CEO Steve Ballmer says ““Microsoft and its partners are delivering a different kind of mobile phone and experience — one that makes everyday tasks faster by getting more done in fewer steps and providing timely information in a ‘glance and go’ format.”.
Not surprisingly, Google’s VP of Engineering Andy Rubin – who basically is responsible for Android – is unimpressed and says that there’s nothing new or innovative about Win Mob 7… but then he does make one of the biggest competitors.
Windows Mobile 7 still has some catching up to do – it doesn’t support multi-tasking, cut & paste or Flash yet.
Overall, the interface looks nice but I am left to wonder if there is any particular advantage over iPhone OS or Android here. I think the biggest loser from this will probably be Nokia, which used to own the Mobile World but has been slipping behind for years. Don’t be surprised to see Symbian/Nokia slipping back further and Windows Mobile taking 3rd place
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