Sheee....eeessshhh! - Eva Glass
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Microsoft pushes Windows Phone 7 to app writers
LAGGING MOBILE PHONE OS vendor Microsoft has made a late pitch to app developers that Windows Phone 7 Series will be the mobile platform to go for rather than the Iphone OS or Android.
Alex Reeve, director of mobile at Microsoft, recognised that the company has had "challenges" in the mobile industry, or in other words, it hasn't done very well.
Microsoft is "fully of aware of that", he said, but he claimed that a "new dawn was coming". Reeve referred to how 18 months ago the company changed everything that it is doing in mobile such as the US management team and a new level of investment, culminating in Windows Phone 7.
Speaking directly to a London audience of app developers who are more used to building Iphone and Android apps he said, "You're here because Microsoft is back in the mobile industry."
"We intend to be back with a bang and we intend to be successful in the mobile industry. This is enormously important to Microsoft."
Reeve claimed that Windows Phone 7, expected this side of Christmas, is going to be a "boost" to a stagnant mobile industry where all the innovation has come with apps rather than the platform.
He said that the system will be less about separate apps, and more about trying to tie them all together in a user-friendly way.
"What we're bringing to the party is a step forward - next generation," burbled Reeve. "It's a product that's going to take things forward in the industry."
In terms of a Microsoft app store marketplace, developers will be able to work with Silverlight and XNA, an Xbox development tool.
Windows Phone 7 does look impressive, but its late entry to a market already saturated by the Iphone and Android devices means that it's got plenty of work to do and its success is in doubt. µ
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You are spot on. Look how fast the iPhone took off. It isn't because people had a Mac, that's for sure. It's because it was different and better than anything else with excellent hardware. Honestly, the GUI is dated and it could have been totally different and people still would have purchased it. The new iPhone could be completely different than the old one and people would still buy it. It comes down to who has the deep pockets and market penetration. Microsoft has it so I don't see how it can fail. It has enough capital to be around as long as it takes.... history is repeating itself with Windows starting to build momentum off the trail blazed by Apple. Apple will always be a niche company until they stop being so goddamned pretentious and closed minded about their hardware and platform direction.
There is no market saturation in the mobile phone space. EVery time people get out of a two year contract, they are inching to try the newest thing. Besides they build the phones to start breaking down after a year into the contracts. We are dealing with Flexware, hardware is being updated once a year in apples case, and software are being updated almost as much as twice or more in Andoid's case. As long as people have ways to easily migrte there data off their phones they will move onto a new device that catches their eye.
Any regular of the PPCGeeks forums can tell you: Windows Phone 7 is highly anticipated. Despite any shortcomings it may have, the mobile Windows OSes offer one thing that no other OS gives us: amazing customization. I'm talking kitchen ROMs and cabs, total breakdown and rebuilds of the OS... iphone and android dont offer nearly as much to that type of use.
Faithful WM users will remain so. We love what we can do with it, despite any flaws. I'm moving on to WP7... let the simpleminded have their petty and restriced fun with other phones, Windows users will have our fun with unleashed power and untold potential.
Posted from my HTC Touch Pro 2.
For those raving on about how KIN will lead the way to success for Windows Phone 7, you might like to know that KIN has already failed.
Retailers are now having clearance sales to get rid of their KIN stock. It's finished.
The smart thing to do is develop for Mobile 7, Android, and IPhone. Might even throw in Blackberry too.
iPhone and droid look like my Windows 3.1 desktop from year ago with its icon based gui and lack of information on the home screen. Dont get me wrong its good and was long overdue for a phone but looks dated to me.
I am the most excited about the Windows Mobile 7 device because in a glance I can see relative useful information and the navigation is excellent.
Microsoft is getting it right with Mobile 7.
BTW if Microsoft is so evil why are they also the largest charity organization? What has Steve Jobs done? He stole a organ from someone else on the donor list with his money. Microsoft is giving hope to those in need and Steve Jobs/Apple took hope from someone. Go on promote Apple and feel good about yourself as they take from you too. Then tell everyone how evil Microsoft is.
I agree with Smooth somewhat. All microsoft needs to do is have a clean interface with some compelling features that others don't have and some good marketing. That's enough to get you started.
I think technically they'll have it, but MS sucks at marketing compared to apple so they'd better try harder this time.
The silverlight and xna stuff and working with standard ms development tools is a big plus for developers in the long run.
I do think MS really needs to get it's vpn/exchange/bes-like functionality in there fast though. They also need to integrate full OCS support.
WP7 will be a market changer. Why? It all has to do with 5 simple things.
1) They will be implementing the Cloud within the phone in the near future. The KIN is a prime example of how this will work (even though it's overpriced IMO). Android and iPhone are lagging far behind in this arena and WP7 is way ahead.
2) Social Networking is seemlessly integrated. No other phone matches the built in features.
3) XBOX Live. Gamers galore here. Nobody can touch the overall experience being provided here.
4) The UI is mindblowing and nothing else resembles it. It's beautifully put together and simple to use.
5) The entire market will be huge. Over 2 Million developers for MS products can develop for it, all the carriers will be carrying it, and users have a wide variety of phones to choose.
I can't wait until this Fall to get one and you'd be idiotic to think they won't have a place in the SmartPhone marketplace.
Seems you have a great Crystal Ball to come up with that conclusion Herman.
The Amazing Kreskin has nothing on you....
Microsoft has just entered panic mode.
Major software developers are still largely ignoring Windows Phone 7. Microsoft is doling out large piles of cash to seduce them, but still they are ignoring Windows Phone 7.
There are many flaws to Microsoft's mobile plans. The Windows Phone 7 OS simply is not ready for prime-time, and will be feature incomplete when released.
Windows Phone 7 will have no Copy-And-Paste. It will have no IPsec VPN. The development release is still bug-ridden, too many to quash before the end of the year.
Microsoft claimed there will be millions of Windows (desktop) developers who can start programming for Windows Phone 7. If this were true, Microsoft would not need to bribe iPhone developers with cash to convince them to port their apps to WP7.
Windows Phone 7 will fail and be axed some time in 2011.