Windows Phone 7 - What’s all the fuss about?

Windows Mobile, if we’re honest, hasn’t really made much of a mark on the smartphone market. It’s never been able to hold a light to any of the big three - Android, Apple and RIM - and has struggled with both software and firmware updates over the last 18 months.

However, all this is going to change - apparently - as Microsoft’s new mobile OS, Windows Phone 7, plans to set the record straight and leave the competition dazed and confused.

Genesis

According to Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, Windows Phone 7 isn’t just another mobile OS - “Its a different kind of mobile experience” completely. But does Microsoft actually make good on its promise?

Well, if the video presentation at MWC is anything to go by then the answer is a resounding YES!

Microsoft have completely reworked its mobile platform, incorporating new features, applications, software and usability. In short, you’ll see no remnants of the previous Windows Mobile OS present in the brand new Windows Phone 7 OS. It’s a fresh start for Microsoft and it clearly has its sights set on taking the fight to Symbian, Apple, Android and RIM. 

“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," said Steve Ballmer at MWC.

Look

As we said, Windows Phone 7 is a complete overhaul of the Windows Mobile OS, featuring a completely new design, finish and UI - all in all, it really looks the part and should be a joy for any user to navigate. We were certainly impressed by the look, feel and intuitiveness of the new OSs navigation, design and aesthetics at the MWC conference.

User Interface

Microsoft have really gone to town on the Windows Phone 7 Series UI - and they really needed too, especially if they want to make a dent in Android’s growing market presence.

What Microsoft have come up with is an intuitive, good looking and stylish UI, which incorporates all the important apps, widgets and social networking aspects, without trending on anyone else’s toes. In this sense, Microsoft have added another palpable choice for smartphone users to the only other real options available at present, which is obviously Apple and Android.

The Windows Phone 7 Series UI is based around “Live Tiles” that shows the user real-time content, such as news and headlines, as well as contact updates like Facebook and Twitter updates. All content within the Tile can be viewed at a glance and requires no opening or activating. In addition to this, the user will also have the ability to create Tiles for both friends, applications and phone features, such as email and messaging.

We really love the look, layout and usability of this innovative UI, which sees Microsoft carving its own niche in the smartphone market after watching Google, Apple and RIM laugh in its face for so many years.

Hubs

Smartphones have big screens these days, so getting stuff at glance has officially become a reality, which makes viewing everything from pictures to news headlines an absolute breeze. Fortunately, Microsoft seemed to realise this when they were putting together Windows Phone 7 and have created an ingenious method of displaying content and media in what it calls “Hubs”.

All Windows Phone 7 Series smartphones will have six Hubs built in that pull together specific content from the most commonly used functions on smartphones, such as People, Pictures, Games, Music and Video, Marketplace, and Office. For example, in the People Hub, all Facebook alerts, Messages and Twitter updates will be stored in one place for easy viewing.

In addition to this, and sure to get gamers’ pulses racing, is the incorporation of Xbox Live games into the Games Hub. Within this Hub, users will be able to use games and read news feeds, as well as view gamer’s avatars, achievements and profiles.

The Future?

As OSs go, Windows Phone 7 is certainly up there with the best of them - bringing together unique design features, an intuitive UI and some of the coolest navigation we’ve seen since the iPhone came out. All in all, it looks like 2010 could be the year that Microsoft reasserts itself into the mobile market.

Adding further weight to this assertion is the fact that Orange, Vodafone, HTC, Samsung, Toshiba and Qualcomm have all begun working with Microsoft in the development and incorporation of its new, possibly game changing, OS - Windows Phone 7.

According to Steve Ballmer, we should begin seeing Windows Phone 7 Series devices by the end of the year. Needless to say, we literally can not wait!

Check out a video demonstration of Windows Phone 7 in action here.