Windows Phone 7 Series is official, and Microsoft is playing to win
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted February 15th 2010 9:00AM
posted February 15th 2010 9:00AM
Besides just flipping the script on the brand, the company seems to be taking a much more vertical approach with hardware and user experience, dictating rigid specs for 7 Series devices (a specific CPU and speed, screen aspect ratio and resolution, memory, and even button configuration), and doing away with carrier or partner UI customizations such as Sense or TouchWiz. That's right -- there will be a single Windows Phone identity regardless of carrier or device brand. Those new phones will likely look similar at first, featuring a high res touchscreen, three front-facing buttons (back, start, and perhaps not shockingly, a Bing key), and little else.
Carrier partnerships are far and wide, including AT&T, Deutsche Telekom AG, Orange, SFR, Sprint, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telstra, T-Mobile USA, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone, while hardware partners include Dell, Garmin-Asus, HTC, HP, LG, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba and Qualcomm. We're told that we likely won't get to see any third-party devices at MWC, though Microsoft is showing off dev units of unknown origin, and the first handsets are supposed to hit the market by the holidays of this year.
We had chance to go hands-on with a device before the announcement, and we've got some detail to share on just what the experience is like, so click here to read our hands-on impressions (with lots of pics and video on the way!).
Microsoft Unveils Windows Phone 7 Series
New phones designed for life in motion to debut at holiday 2010.
BARCELONA, Spain - Feb. 15, 2010 - Today at Mobile World Congress 2010, Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer unveiled the next generation of Windows® Phones, Windows Phone 7 Series. With this new platform, Microsoft offers a fresh approach to phone software, distinguished by smart design and truly integrated experiences that bring to the surface the content people care about from the Web and applications. For the first time ever, Microsoft will bring together Xbox LIVE games and the Zune music and video experience on a mobile phone, exclusively on Windows Phone 7 Series. Partners have already started building phones; customers will be able to purchase the first phones in stores by holiday 2010.
"Today, I'm proud to introduce Windows Phone 7 Series, the next generation of Windows Phones," said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer at Microsoft. "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. Windows Phone 7 Series marks a turning point toward phones that truly reflect the speed of people's lives and their need to connect to other people and all kinds of seamless experiences."
Designed for Life in Motion
With Windows Phone 7 Series, Microsoft takes a fundamentally different approach to phone software. Smart design begins with a new, holistic design system that informs every aspect of the phone, from its visually appealing layout and motion to its function and hardware integration. On the Start screen, dynamically updated "live tiles" show users real-time content directly, breaking the mold of static icons that serve as an intermediate step on the way to an application. Create a tile of a friend, and the user gains a readable, up-to-date view of a friend's latest pictures and posts, just by glancing at Start.
Every Windows Phone 7 Series phone will come with a dedicated hardware button for Bing, providing one-click access to search from anywhere on the phone, while a special implementation of Bing search provides intent-specific results, delivering the most relevant Web or local results, depending on the type of query.
Windows Phone 7 Series creates an unrivaled set of integrated experiences on a phone through Windows Phone hubs. Hubs bring together related content from the Web, applications and services into a single view to simplify common tasks. Windows Phone 7 Series includes six hubs built on specific themes reflecting activities that matter most to people:
People. This hub delivers an engaging social experience by bringing together relevant content based on the person, including his or her 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. This hub makes it easy to share pictures and video to a social network in one step. Windows Phone 7 Series also brings together a user's photos by integrating with the Web and PC, making the phone the ideal place to view a person's entire picture and video collection.
Games. This hub delivers the first and only official Xbox LIVE experience on a phone, including Xbox LIVE games, Spotlight feed and the ability to see a gamer's avatar, Achievements and gamer profile. With more than 23 million active members around the world, Xbox LIVE unlocks a world of friends, games and entertainment on Xbox 360, and now also on Windows Phone 7 Series.
Music + Video. This hub creates an incredible media experience that brings the best of Zune, including content from a user's PC, online music services and even a built-in FM radio into one simple place that is all about music and video. Users can turn their media experience into a social one with Zune Social on a PC and share their media recommendations with like-minded music lovers. The playback experience is rich and easy to navigate, and immerses the listener in the content.
Marketplace. This hub allows the user to easily discover and load the phone with certified applications and games.
Office. This hub brings the familiar experience of the world's leading productivity software to the Windows Phone. With access to Office, OneNote and SharePoint Workspace all in one place, users can easily read, edit and share documents. With the additional power of Outlook Mobile, users stay productive and up to date while on the go.
Availability
Partners from around the world have committed to include Windows Phone 7 Series in their portfolio plans. They include mobile operators AT&T, Deutsche Telekom AG, Orange, SFR, Sprint, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telstra, T-Mobile USA, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone, and manufacturers Dell, Garmin-Asus, HTC Corp., HP, LG, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba and Qualcomm Inc. The first phones will be available by holiday 2010. Customers who would like to receive additional information about Windows Phone 7 Series and be notified when it is available can register at http://www.windowsphone7series.com.
To watch the full replay of Steve Ballmer's press conference at Mobile World Congress, and to experience Windows Phone 7 Series through an online product demo, readers can visit http://www.microsoft.com/news/windowsphone.
New phones designed for life in motion to debut at holiday 2010.
BARCELONA, Spain - Feb. 15, 2010 - Today at Mobile World Congress 2010, Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer unveiled the next generation of Windows® Phones, Windows Phone 7 Series. With this new platform, Microsoft offers a fresh approach to phone software, distinguished by smart design and truly integrated experiences that bring to the surface the content people care about from the Web and applications. For the first time ever, Microsoft will bring together Xbox LIVE games and the Zune music and video experience on a mobile phone, exclusively on Windows Phone 7 Series. Partners have already started building phones; customers will be able to purchase the first phones in stores by holiday 2010.
"Today, I'm proud to introduce Windows Phone 7 Series, the next generation of Windows Phones," said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer at Microsoft. "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. Windows Phone 7 Series marks a turning point toward phones that truly reflect the speed of people's lives and their need to connect to other people and all kinds of seamless experiences."
Designed for Life in Motion
With Windows Phone 7 Series, Microsoft takes a fundamentally different approach to phone software. Smart design begins with a new, holistic design system that informs every aspect of the phone, from its visually appealing layout and motion to its function and hardware integration. On the Start screen, dynamically updated "live tiles" show users real-time content directly, breaking the mold of static icons that serve as an intermediate step on the way to an application. Create a tile of a friend, and the user gains a readable, up-to-date view of a friend's latest pictures and posts, just by glancing at Start.
Every Windows Phone 7 Series phone will come with a dedicated hardware button for Bing, providing one-click access to search from anywhere on the phone, while a special implementation of Bing search provides intent-specific results, delivering the most relevant Web or local results, depending on the type of query.
Windows Phone 7 Series creates an unrivaled set of integrated experiences on a phone through Windows Phone hubs. Hubs bring together related content from the Web, applications and services into a single view to simplify common tasks. Windows Phone 7 Series includes six hubs built on specific themes reflecting activities that matter most to people:
People. This hub delivers an engaging social experience by bringing together relevant content based on the person, including his or her 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. This hub makes it easy to share pictures and video to a social network in one step. Windows Phone 7 Series also brings together a user's photos by integrating with the Web and PC, making the phone the ideal place to view a person's entire picture and video collection.
Games. This hub delivers the first and only official Xbox LIVE experience on a phone, including Xbox LIVE games, Spotlight feed and the ability to see a gamer's avatar, Achievements and gamer profile. With more than 23 million active members around the world, Xbox LIVE unlocks a world of friends, games and entertainment on Xbox 360, and now also on Windows Phone 7 Series.
Music + Video. This hub creates an incredible media experience that brings the best of Zune, including content from a user's PC, online music services and even a built-in FM radio into one simple place that is all about music and video. Users can turn their media experience into a social one with Zune Social on a PC and share their media recommendations with like-minded music lovers. The playback experience is rich and easy to navigate, and immerses the listener in the content.
Marketplace. This hub allows the user to easily discover and load the phone with certified applications and games.
Office. This hub brings the familiar experience of the world's leading productivity software to the Windows Phone. With access to Office, OneNote and SharePoint Workspace all in one place, users can easily read, edit and share documents. With the additional power of Outlook Mobile, users stay productive and up to date while on the go.
Availability
Partners from around the world have committed to include Windows Phone 7 Series in their portfolio plans. They include mobile operators AT&T, Deutsche Telekom AG, Orange, SFR, Sprint, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telstra, T-Mobile USA, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone, and manufacturers Dell, Garmin-Asus, HTC Corp., HP, LG, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba and Qualcomm Inc. The first phones will be available by holiday 2010. Customers who would like to receive additional information about Windows Phone 7 Series and be notified when it is available can register at http://www.windowsphone7series.com.
To watch the full replay of Steve Ballmer's press conference at Mobile World Congress, and to experience Windows Phone 7 Series through an online product demo, readers can visit http://www.microsoft.com/news/windowsphone.
i´m sorry, too many words for me to read through but DAMN it looks good! will there be mac-support?
Imagine Microsoft bringing this new OS to the ZuneHD or its next iteration... Hardware-wise, besides the obvious lack of the phone part and GPS, the ZuneHD isn't that much different from the minimum spec for a Windows Phone.
What would we have then? An ecosystem of Windows Phone 7 Series devices aimed squarely at iPhone and iPod touch.
The mere thought gives me a shiver!!!!!
Really? You are impressed by this presentation? Seriously?
No product. I say again, Microsoft did not announce a product today. They announced half of a product that may come in, when, 9 months? And they failed to show what this product can do better than the (already released) products it's competing with. EVERYTHING they showed today the iPhone could do... two years ago. It's not enough anymore to repeat what others have already done, especially when those others come up with their next improved iteration in two or three months time, way before your product finally hits the market.
Additionally: "A phone is not a PC... and a PC is not a phone". True. What's Microsoft showing us after that? How to do PC stuff on the phone (which, as I said, Apple has already shown how to do years ago). What about showing phone stuff? What happens when you get a call? How does the UI react, prioritize and return to what you were doing before?
Next: "We need to concentrate on the consumer experience". Right. Anything consumer oriented in the second half? Prices? Nope, but touting the hardware and carrier partners. Once again, Microsoft failed to communicate. Was this announcement meant for the consumers? Or Microsoft's business partners?
Frankly, this was what Microsoft done for decades. Announce to make something that's similar to what's already there, and promise the sky (and deliver hell when the competition's dead).
Hopefully, people are not falling for Microsoft's scam this time.
@elgarak : upon further thought, I'm afraid I have to agree. There's not merely nothing revolutionary here - there's barely even anything [i]current[/i] by smartphone standards. The integration of Microsoft's various ecosystems into a mobile experience has some value, no question - but for those who don't use Live or own a Zune, what does this really offer? We've only heard a tiny part of the story here, but this entire thing feels like a cry for help to their partners: specifically, "Don't give up on us yet, please!"
@elgarak
I agree with you, a lack of announced device doesn't do too much with microsoft, but I have a big problem with the post beyond that. Microsoft is a SOFTWARE company. They won't announce a device they won't be making, as that's Samsung/HTC/etc's responsibility.
Daddy like!
Lets see what Apple has got to say at June
@aelaos
No kidding.
"The next iPhone will be an A+ upgrade." - Steve Jobs
Very excited to see Microsoft finally releasing WinMo7... well, not releasing... just talking about it more. Check back in fall 2010.
Either way, should be cool to see how this looks in the real world. I wonder who made the prototype phone.
My only gripe this time is that hardware doesn't seem to be up to scratch. There is a lot of mistouches happening. Besides that UI is great imo. I have been waiting to upgrade my phone, 7 series might be that thing that I have been waiting for! (and I am so very very glad that they didn't just make another sad imitation of iPhone interface!)
This chances everything. Good for Microsoft finally realized to target the "end-users".
I am happy that microsoft, through more intense competition, is bringing out their A game. The Zune HD, WIndows 7, and now this! As an avid Linux user, I must say that I am really starting to love the direction MS is taking.
Is it just me or does this UI have a disturbingly Nokia vibe to it? And the big question...just how "rigid" is the look and feel? MS could score HUGE here by doing what Apple will not, that is allowing some meaningful tweaking of the UI. Yes, I'm a big fan of consistency and high functionality..but those giant two-color icons really don't do it for me. I actually LIKE the idea of a home screen where you can actually *see* which appointment you have next, etc. Can I get rid of the Xbox and Zune icons/tiles/whatever which have no relevance for me? These are big questions that I wanna see addressed. Engadget (and Microsoft), make me proud!
This is interesting.
I'm actually impressed! The prototype phone looks great with the squared off edges. The iPhone looks a bit toy like after seeing the Zune HD and WP7 series. Great interface if it's anything like the Zune HD.
I can't wait to see what people do with the SDK. I mean dear god, it looks amazing now. imagine if HTC starts adding content. The only thing that has me worried is if the minimalistic UI will cause Microsoft to adopt "cookie cutter" development like Apple.
Looks awesome. I was a verizon wireless user while i was in the states - I've gotten an Iphone while in Germany and I love it - but I'm a fan of great service / reliability. I had planned to switch to AT&T in 2012 when I return so i can keep my iphone... but if this thing is on verizon and gets good reviews- i might have to be a Windows 7 Phone user in 2 years!
I'm actually not that impressed. I think that the new "scattered" UI is not very intuitive. I even wrote a few lines about it - see here: http://bit.ly/aIWNvq
nice recap:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dM4X-KveSs
bada BING bada boom
WP7 is a joke
Sliding is never a good method to perform
Clicking is more suitable
And the design of the words are too big
Try to imagine what will be happened if you are using a 3.1" WP7 phone instead of a 4.3" one
K so I just saw the 21 min video about the whole user interface and two things I already don't like about it....keep in my I'm only nitpicking.
1) When you press the search button..it doesn't automatically open up the virtual keyboard..now yes some phones will have slide out keyboards but that doesn't mean u cant open the virtual one too.
2) Where is the twitter, myspace, etc social integration...we have more then just a facebook profile msft. Why is it only pulls pics from facebook when in pictures and not myspace and flicrk??? (same goes with contacts and updates on statuses for myspace and tweeter.
Other then that, AMAZING JOB WITH THIS NEW OS!
clean up the few little bugs and add some more options and you have yourself a winner!
@abedinthehouse
These are the early builds, things like #1 is very minor fix.
#2, As per Joe, you can integrate with any social networking media.
At last, I can start some development on mobile platform.
I was nervous that I have to develop on iPhone and andriod as windows mobile was fading away
Raj
www.testpaperworld.com
Great news of Windows 7 mobile series. Windows 7 for notebooks/PC is best so far.
Microsoft Surface is master technology and similar techonology is introduced in mobile phones, I believe so.
Large touchscreen Mobile Phones like HTC HD 2 with Windows 7 mobile will be marvelous and would be real show beating all mobiles platforms.
Wow, I would anxiously awaiting HTC HD2 with Windows 7. Even tablet PC coming with Windows 7 would be welcome.
It is not difficult to implement(if not already) multitasking on to the new Tile based UI. Consider this, If you want to run any third party application in background, you just pin it to the home(which they already shown in the demo). So the home screen becomes a task switcher. The app can show its current status/updates in its allocated tile. Is itn't great?
Also, If any OEM wants to add a complete panel like people panel or the music/Video panle, it would be very easy to implement.
So customization is not an issue, XDA, ppcgeeks guys should be able to iron out any other issues that may arise later.
interesting design and fatures. Does it have a camera?
So they announced a phone OS, but call it a "phone series" and it won't even be available for almost an entire year? The way Microsoft blatantly pretends to make actual hardware is the height of sliminess. How many times does Balmer get to say "we sold x-number of computers or laptops or phones?"
FTW! http://blog.itag.com/47/windows-phone-7-series-ftw/
@adamlovezu Huh? ZuneHD took the world by storm? When? did I miss something?
Lovely! I just wait for them.
Epic fail, their odd, half-finished, OSs into one crazy little package called... Windows...
Sort of multitasking, no flash. Forget...