Windows Phone 7 review – Step by step overview of the mobile OS core features !

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS AND WRAP-UP

“Windows Phone 7 is a different kind of phone designed to bring together what people care about most.”

I’m using a Windows Phone 7 device for a few weeks now, and I must admit that indeed Windows Phone 7 is a different kind of phone in many ways.

The graphical user interface (GUI) is different, compared to competing platforms like the Apple iPhone or Google Android. The Windows Phone 7 GUI uses the Metro design language, which focuses on content that matters and not on fancy graphics. As you have seen in the review, the live tiles give you real-time information and update accordingly.

Integration is the keyword !

User content from different accounts is aggregated, linked, and exposed to the Windows Phone 7 user in a smart and clever way. The information is not kept in the holistic silo of a particular application, but integrated throughout the platform. It is not only very cool, but it helps you to efficiently manage multiple accounts as well.

The integration of Zune and Xbox LIVE connect other sets of Microsoft products and services. If you think about it more clearly it is even a case of integrating complete ecosystems and he social communities since both Zune and Xbox LIVE consist of a social part. In the Xbox LIVE case Microsoft is in the unique position to “own” the end to end experience complete, which is quite unique in my view.

Windows Phone 7 in daily practice

Let me repeat that this is Windows Phone 7 version 1.0, a first version of a complete new mobile operating system from Microsoft. I think it is fair to take this mindset as a starting point.

Terry Myerson, Corporate Vice President of Windows Phone Engineering, wrote when Windows Phone 7 hit the RTM milestone:

“Windows Phone 7 is the most thoroughly tested mobile platform Microsoft has ever released. ”

I think that Mr. Myerson is right. Windows Phone 7 is a highly stable and robust platform, and in the few weeks that I’m using a real device I didn’t experience a single glitch, compared to the situation of Windows Mobile 6.x where you needed to soft reset once in a while.

Furthermore Microsoft has spend a lot of efforts in look and feel of Windows Phone 7, with even more attention for details. These are things you don’t see in a demo of a keynote, but you really start noticing these during everyday use. Day by day you explore those details, and really start to appreciate them in the overall look and feel.

Great start, how will Windows Phone 7 evolve ?

Joe Belfiore, Corporate Vice President Windows Phone Program Management, already announced atthe Windows Phone 7 launch-day (October 21st) that copy-paste functionality will become available early 2011.

But also things like the ability to create groups in the programs list, or combine the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Airplane settings in a single comm-manager window. Where can I back-up my SMS messages, as long as I’m not running a Microsoft Exchange 2010 server in the back-end ? I used Microsoft MyPhone for this purpose on Windows Mobile 6.x.

Windows Phone 7 is launched as a more consumer oriented mobile operating system, but it is certainly interesting to think about deployment and management of Windows Phone 7 devices (which is really important for IT professionals).

I can only conclude that I really like Windows Phone 7, because it is different in many ways. Especially the integration principles is something that I really like. However as a long term Windows Mobile user I also have admit that there is room for improvement. I’m really curious how Windows Phone 7 will evolve over time (starting with the upgrade story), and the platform really has the potential to take back marketshare in the mobile market.

What do you like about Windows Phone 7 or what should in your opinion be improved in the next major update ?

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