Windows OS for mobiles debuts

Remmy Nweke in Barcelona, Spain

The Windows Phone 7 Series has been launched at the on-going Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, just as it got commitments from about eight major industry players in addition to engaging nine operators.

These include Samsung, LG, Sony Ericsson, HTC, HP, Dell, Toshiba and Garmin Asus, while the In addition, the company has signed up AT&T, Orange, T-Mobile, Telefonica, Sprint Nextel, Vodafone, SFR, Verizon Wireless, Telstra and l Italia.

The much-awaited latest version of Microsoft mobile operating system for smartphones, is a bet from the company which hopes to resuscitate its market support for the OS for handset vendors, mobile operators and developers.

Also, Microsoft said at a press session that it intends to push the platform's consumer credentials by showcasing its social-networking and content abilities, while downplaying its role as a productivity tool.

This, the company said, would be in effort to adequately compete counterparts which include Apple and Google-backed Android platform.

Chief executive, Microsoft, Mr. Steve Ballmer, noted that the first phones to run on Windows Phone 7 Series will hit market before Christmas 2010.

He acknowledged that Microsoft has faced rising competition in the OS market from rivals, particularly Android, which has increasingly supported leading handset vendors such as HTC, LG and Motorola in addition to mobile operators. Daily Champion recalled that during last year, Microsoft witnessed a slide in its share of the mobile OS market.

According to Ballmer, the need for change with the latest version of the OS is no question as they have to thrive towards the first seat.

“No question we had to step back... to recast our strategy and design approach,” he said.

Microsoft wants to see a greater consistency in how the OS is implemented by handset manufacturers to compete more effectively against rivals. It wants more consistency in areas such as hardware specifications and the user interface (UI).

Yet Microsoft is trying to woo back manufacturers who want to innovate with handset UIs themselves, creating a dilemma, assuring it will work particularly closely with AT&T and Orange.


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