Microsoft will reveal the production version of its Windows Phone 7 operating system today, in New York. Meanwhile, South Africans can look forward to the Xbox Live and Zune services, both of which will be launched locally.
The completely rewritten operating system will see the software company's re-entry into the mobile market, and serve as a successor to the Windows Mobile platform.
Windows Mobile-based devices currently share only 5% of smartphone sales, while Nokia's Symbian OS has 41.2%, according to Gartner.
Apple, Nokia and BlackBerry have their mobile operating systems installed on bespoke devices, but Microsoft has chosen to develop an operating system while dictating the minimum specifications for hardware on which it can be installed.
Minimum hardware specifications call for a new-generation capacitive touch-screen, such as those used in the iPhone and BlackBerry Torch, with multi-touch capabilities and a high, 800x480 resolution. The base processor speed is 1GHz, though this has to be a processor based on the ARM v7 architecture - the same architecture used in many other portable devices, including Apple, Motorola and Palm phones.
Microsoft's hardware partners include HTC, LG, Dell, Samsung and Sony Ericsson. It's expected that devices from these companies will be demonstrated on stage at the unveiling.
Windows Phone 7 differs from the last version of Windows Mobile, version 6.5, in many ways. The interface is designed from the ground up to run on modern capacitive touch-screens, rather than the resistive touch-screen technology the first Windows Mobile devices ran on. Modern touch-screens do not need a stylus for operation, and can work by simply using a finger on the surface.
Steven Ambrose, MD of WWW Strategy, says Microsoft is “absolutely taking the local consumer seriously”, with the confirmation that these two consumer-focused services will come to the local market.
“Windows Phone 7 is going to be much more important than people give it credit for,” he adds, citing Microsoft's realisation that “South African consumers are worthy of [Microsoft's] consumer services”.
Windows Phone 7's user-centric interface is based on what Microsoft calls Hubs.
The home screen on Windows Phone 7 will have Tiles, which act as shortcuts to Hubs. Tiles can be rearranged on the home display and are capable of displaying dynamic content. A social networking Hub is home to content from Facebook, Windows Live and Twitter, while a pictures Hub can display photos from albums on Flickr, Picasa or Facebook.
Also present, and an important part of the consumer services on offer, is a media Hub. This is similar in appearance to Microsoft's Zune HD dedicated media player. The media functionality will draw content from the Zune Marketplace, for premium audio and video content.
Windows Phone 7 devices will be available on the local market before the end of the year.
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