Microsoft has firmly placed its foot in the smartphone market with the new Windows Phone 7 mobile. The new operating system brings the best of what Windows has to offer over to the small screen.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said of the new OS: "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."
Telstra customers will be among the first to experience the new operating system via the HTC 7 Mozart (available from Thursday 21 October) and the LG Optimus 7Q (November).
Vodafone will be releasing Windows 7 via the HTC 7 Trophy, and Optus will bring Windows 7 to their customers via the Samsung Omnia 7 and the LG Optimus 7.
A bit more on Windows 7...
The Windows 7 home screen uses the customisable “Live Tiles” interface. The dynamic Start screen will send you live updates of what’s happening, for instance: pending messages, news, weather and upcoming appointments.
The user interface features People, Pictures, Music and Games. The operating system integrates Xbox LIVE®, Microsoft® Office, Microsoft Outlook, Windows® Live services, SharePoint (document collaboration), OneNote (for note taking), and Tellme (a voice recognition service).
Windows 7 also includes extensive maps with localised information such as where to eat or what to do.
The OS provides fast camera access for users who don’t want to miss an unexpected photo opportunity. Customers will also have the option to automatically upload their images once a photo is taken. Photos from the phone can be integrated with images from your PC and Facebook.
Windows 7 features a dynamic media centre where users can listen to music or podcasts and recommend favourite songs to friends.
The “Find My Phone” feature allows users to: “remotely ring, lock, erase, and show your phone's location on a map—or post a ‘Please Return’ note on the screen.”
Microsoft will be sending out updates for the Windows 7 OS and they will be sent simultaneously to all Windows 7 phones and carriers. A ‘cut and paste’ function will be available in early 2011.
HTC 7 Mozart
• 3.7 inch touchscreen
• 8-megapixel camera
• anodized aluminium
• 8GB internal memory
LG Optimus 7Q
• Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
• 16GB internal memory