Windows 7 Released Down Under
October 12th, 2010 | by Mobile Data Group |Microsoft has unleashed Windows Phone 7 in Australia and around the world and analysts say this could be its last chance to muscle in on the smartphone wars, which have been dominated by Apple and Google.
Over the next two months five Windows Phone 7 handsets will be available in Australia from HTC, LG and Samsung. The handsets, the first of which will be launched next week, include the HTC 7 Mozart and 7 Trophy, the LG Optimus 7 and Optimus 7 Q and the Samsung Omnia 7.
The launch comes as Microsoft faces unprecedented pressure to reboot its mobile strategy, having been dominated in both the business and consumer markets by the iPhone, Google’s Android and RIM’s BlackBerry for some time.
Windows Phone 7 represents a complete overhaul of Microsoft’s previous mobile platform effort, Windows Mobile 6.5. The two versions are poles apart with Windows Phone 7 adopting a unique new tile-based user interface based on live “hubs” named after the main functions i.e. people, pictures, music, videos, games (Xbox Live), apps and office.
“With Windows Phone 7 we’ve taken a new direction and a fresh start,” said Microsoft Australia managing director Tracy Fellows, adding she now saw Microsoft as a “challenger” in a space the company helped create.
But some commentators have already reeled off a stream of missing features, some of which are due to be added in future software updates. These include copy/paste, tethering, Flash support, HTML5 support and multi-tasking.
“On the face of it, though, Windows Phone 7 looks to have positioned Microsoft on the edge of a smartphone renaissance.”