14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft officials have just confirmed that Apple fans will be able to sync their Windows Phone 7 smartphones with their Macs starting later this year. Zune software will be the only synching software for WM7 devices with PCs and probably Macs.
After Microsoft UK’s head of Windows Phone marketing, Oded Ran, tweeted the info yesterday, the Redmond company came today to confirm Ran's message, which by the way, was deleted shortly after he posted it.
Microsoft's statement does not include the name of the new sync tool that will enable Mac users to sync their Windows Phone 7 smartphones, but Ran's tweeted message mentioned that “Mac users would be able to use Zune on their Macs to sync with WP7.”
Here is Microsoft's full statement: “Later in 2010 Microsoft will make a public beta available of a tool that allows Windows Phone 7 to sync select content with Mac computers.”
This is an important move from Microsoft, who finally started to trespass on Apple's territory, thus giving Apple's fans a suitable alternative to the iPhone.
Unfortunately, there's no telling when the new beta application will be available for download, and if Microsoft will manage to release it before the actual launch of the WM7 devices that were announced earlier this week.
For those out of the loop, Zune sync software will enable WM7 smartphone users to sync their device with the PC. Your WM7 phone will not be recognized without the Zune software and you won't be able to transfer anything else but music, pictures, videos and document files.
WM7 phones are not compatible with the USB storage mode, so when synced with Zune, the PC will recognize the phone as a Media collection.
Fortunately, Mac users are already used with the iTunes app, which works on the same principle.