Come on, come on, come out already! Since this is the launch week for the Verizon/Motorola/Google Android Droid X and Apple's iPhone 4, Microsoft trotted out a prototype Samsung phone running Windows Phone 7 last night to show folks that they're still in the smartphone game.
The Samsung phone isn't a final WP7 device; it looked to us like the latest build of WP7 hacked onto a European Omnia phone. But the software ran fast and smooth, with all the features we've come to expect from Windows Phone 7: big, bold text, Xbox Live, Zune, Bing and such.
Windows Phone 7's biggest problem is that it just isn't here yet. During the Summer of the Smartphone, Microsoft is still simmering their stew. This isn't a surprise: when they announced WP7 back in February, they only promised it around some vague "holidays" in 2010 - and that could be New Year's Eve.
But with Android and Apple ramping up their lineups, will there be room for Windows Phone 7 in six months? Tell us what you think in the comments, and check out the latest build of Windows Phone 7 in the slideshow below.
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January 29, 2011
January 26, 2011
Microsoft, Samsung Partner on Windows Phone 7 Devices
Samsung on Friday confirmed that it will launch several Windows Phone 7 devices this year in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
"Samsung's new Windows Phone 7 based smartphones will play a key role to reinforce Samsung's leadership in smartphone market," WP Wong, executive vice president and head of Samsung's product strategy, said in a statement. "The new Windows Phone 7 smartphones will provide an unparalleled entertainment experience on the go."
Samsung had few details about the Windows Phone 7 phones it might release, except to say that it is making a "long-term commitment to including Windows Phone 7 in its smartphone portfolio." That will include the Windows Phone 7 platform and related application software, Samsung said.
"For years, Samsung has been a key partner in bringing new Windows phones to customers all over the world," said Steve Guggenheimer, corporate vice president of Microsoft's OEM division. "Windows Phone 7 is an important release, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration with Samsung on mobile devices and beyond, with our multi-screen strategy."
When those phones will hit store shelves is another story. There have been a variety of rumors about when Windows Phone 7 will officially launch. Microsoft is holding a press conference in Europe on Oct. 11, where several Web sites are expecting the company to finally announce the first Windows Phone 7 devices. The company will also host an "open house" in New York City on the same day, where PCMag will be in attendance.
Neowin, however, insisted that there will be launch events on October 21, while Microsoft observer Paul Thurrott is claiming that Windows Phones will launch in the U.S. on November 8.
A Friday report in The Wall Street Journal said that Microsoft will indeed launch Windows Phone 7 on Oct. 11 with AT&T as its initial, exclusive launch partner. AT&T will offer Windows Phone 7 devices from Samsung, LG, and HTC, which it will start selling the week of Nov. 8, the Journal said.
Samsung, meanwhile, is currently busy with its Galaxy Tab tablet. It was announced Friday that the device will go on sale in the U.K. on Nov. 1, but Samsung has still not released any pricing information about the device.
"Samsung's new Windows Phone 7 based smartphones will play a key role to reinforce Samsung's leadership in smartphone market," WP Wong, executive vice president and head of Samsung's product strategy, said in a statement. "The new Windows Phone 7 smartphones will provide an unparalleled entertainment experience on the go."
Samsung had few details about the Windows Phone 7 phones it might release, except to say that it is making a "long-term commitment to including Windows Phone 7 in its smartphone portfolio." That will include the Windows Phone 7 platform and related application software, Samsung said.
"For years, Samsung has been a key partner in bringing new Windows phones to customers all over the world," said Steve Guggenheimer, corporate vice president of Microsoft's OEM division. "Windows Phone 7 is an important release, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration with Samsung on mobile devices and beyond, with our multi-screen strategy."
When those phones will hit store shelves is another story. There have been a variety of rumors about when Windows Phone 7 will officially launch. Microsoft is holding a press conference in Europe on Oct. 11, where several Web sites are expecting the company to finally announce the first Windows Phone 7 devices. The company will also host an "open house" in New York City on the same day, where PCMag will be in attendance.
Neowin, however, insisted that there will be launch events on October 21, while Microsoft observer Paul Thurrott is claiming that Windows Phones will launch in the U.S. on November 8.
A Friday report in The Wall Street Journal said that Microsoft will indeed launch Windows Phone 7 on Oct. 11 with AT&T as its initial, exclusive launch partner. AT&T will offer Windows Phone 7 devices from Samsung, LG, and HTC, which it will start selling the week of Nov. 8, the Journal said.
Samsung, meanwhile, is currently busy with its Galaxy Tab tablet. It was announced Friday that the device will go on sale in the U.K. on Nov. 1, but Samsung has still not released any pricing information about the device.
January 25, 2011
Rumor: Microsoft Eyes FaceTime-Like Option for Windows Phone
Microsoft is cooking up a FaceTime foe for Windows Phone 7, according to Neowin.
At last week's Consumer Electronics Show, a "key WP7 employee" disclosed to the Web site that Microsoft was hard at work on a FaceTime-esque feature that could be bundled with Microsoft Live, allowing video chatting across platforms and devices. The new feature might also link with MSN Messenger. When asked why not use Skype, the anonymous employee suggested that the new service would extend beyond the reach of the VoIP service.
Apple announced FaceTime with the launch of iPhone 4 last June, and brought the service to the desktop last October. Skype recently brought videoconferencing to 3G with its updated client for the iPhone and iPad. And Google has already flashed its tablet-based video chat feature for Android 3.0 Honeycomb.
When the FaceTime competitor will arrive remains to be seen. While it's possible that Microsoft's FaceTime will come bundled with the Windows 7.5 update, codenamed "Mango," it's more likely that it will arrive alongside "Windows Phone 8."
"It was hinted at, but not confirmed, that WP8 requirements may include a front facing camera," Neowin wrote.
Correspondingly, the feature could surface as early as next month, at Mobile World Congress 2011 (February 14-17), or as late as the second half of the year. Whatever it is, Microsoft had better work quickly to recapture a bit of the media spotlight, which seems, at present, singularly focused on Apple.
At last week's Consumer Electronics Show, a "key WP7 employee" disclosed to the Web site that Microsoft was hard at work on a FaceTime-esque feature that could be bundled with Microsoft Live, allowing video chatting across platforms and devices. The new feature might also link with MSN Messenger. When asked why not use Skype, the anonymous employee suggested that the new service would extend beyond the reach of the VoIP service.
Apple announced FaceTime with the launch of iPhone 4 last June, and brought the service to the desktop last October. Skype recently brought videoconferencing to 3G with its updated client for the iPhone and iPad. And Google has already flashed its tablet-based video chat feature for Android 3.0 Honeycomb.
When the FaceTime competitor will arrive remains to be seen. While it's possible that Microsoft's FaceTime will come bundled with the Windows 7.5 update, codenamed "Mango," it's more likely that it will arrive alongside "Windows Phone 8."
"It was hinted at, but not confirmed, that WP8 requirements may include a front facing camera," Neowin wrote.
Correspondingly, the feature could surface as early as next month, at Mobile World Congress 2011 (February 14-17), or as late as the second half of the year. Whatever it is, Microsoft had better work quickly to recapture a bit of the media spotlight, which seems, at present, singularly focused on Apple.
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