Following the global launch of Windows 8, today Microsoft officially released the Windows Phone 8 smartphone operating system.
While many of the features have already been made public, some new features revealed by Microsoft include 'Data Sense,' 'Rooms' and 'Kid's Corner'. Microsoft also revealed some further pricing and availability details for the first Windows Phone 8 devices from Nokia, Samsung and HTC. The handsets will go on sale globally in November.
Speaking at the launch event, manager of the Windows Phone Program at Microsoft, Joe Belfiore, said when it came to designing Windows Phone 8, Microsoft wanted to create "a new way for people to connect with their phones".
According to Belfiore, the core smartphone experience hasn't evolved very much in the last five years. Referring to the use of live tiles, Belfiore says: "We had to reinvent the app experience, and not have it be part of a static grid of icons. It's not about having a lot of apps to choose from. It's being able to choose apps that light up your experience so it means more to you. We're not for everybody... we're for the individual."
The live tiles can be pinned to the start screen at the user's discretion, with three different sizes and 20 different colour choices available for increased personalisation. The live tiles also deliver real-time information to the start screen. "This is what we're pouring our heart and energy into, so you can get a smartphone that's made for you. Your phone becomes like your fingerprint. It becomes a unique expression of who you are."
New features
According to Belfiore, there are 120 000 applications in the Windows Phone Store, which is now accessible in 191 countries. Microsoft also announced a specially designed app for Internet radio service, Pandora, will be coming to the platform in early 2013 with one year of ad-free music for users.
Skype has now also been fully integrated into the OS. Belfiore says for the first time the new Skype app is always on. "It's ready to receive a call or message at any time, and it does this without running code in the background and running your battery."
The new feature 'Kid's Corner' is Microsoft's solution to the problem of children always asking to play with their parents' phones.
"Kid's Corner is a worry-free way to share your phone with your kids, so they can play 'Angry Birds' without texting your angry boss. Parents can now hand over their phones to the kids without worrying about deleted photos, misdirected e-mails, unapproved purchases or accidental phone calls," says Microsoft. The Kid's Corner can be customised by the parent to include only specific apps, games, music and videos, while their own personal data and apps remain locked.
The new Rooms feature allows users to create small, private groups for chats and sharing. According to Microsoft, some aspects of Rooms will also be available to friends and family members on other smartphone platforms.
Another new feature is Data Sense, which helps users to monitor their data usage. The feature also compresses Web pages and defers data tasks to free WiFi when available. Users can also set data usage limits and receive notifications when nearing their limit. "Data Sense will roll out to select mobile operators this holiday and additional partners next year," says Microsoft.
The Windows Phone 8 platform also supports new mobile wallet technologies such as payments via near-field communication and mobile storage of debit, credit, loyalty and membership card information.
Different perspective
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said: "Today, we're bringing phones into the Windows family with Windows Phone 8. Four years ago, we really started on what became Windows Phone. We had a very different perspective on what a smartphone should be. We didn't want to just build a phone for all of us, we wanted to build one for each of us. Different shapes, sizes and colours to make them personal for each of us. Windows Phone 8 is the culmination of this effort. The simple act of pinning who and what you care about will immediately make the phone yours.
"Windows Phone is the best phone for Windows. It's the most personal smartphone available. We reinvented the smartphone around you," said Ballmer.
The flagship Windows Phone 8 devices include the Nokia 920, Windows Phone 8X by HTC and the Samsung ATIV S. Microsoft SA will reveal further details of local availability on Wednesday.
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