MWC announcement, September launch

Feb 8, 2010 07:57 GMT  ·  By

The Mobile World Congress is set to kick off only one week from now, and most of you might already know that this year's main character at the event is expected to be Microsoft's next-generation Windows Mobile 7. A great deal of rumors on the upcoming operating system already emerged, but now it seems that a full list of features on it is available for our reading pleasure, along with various tidbits on when the platform will be launched and on when the first handsets running under it will land.

According to a recent post on mobiletechworld, all the pieces of info on Windows Mobile 7 come from an anonymous source, and they should be taken with a big grain of salt, tough some of them are in line with what we already know from previous rumors. We can include here the fact that the OS is set to be announced officially at the MWC show, where the UX will also be demoed, though the development area will be discussed only at the MIX10 conference in March.

The list of Windows Mobile 7 details also includes: · XNA apps can be developed using XNA GameStudio 3.1 · MS will release a mobile version of VS / Expression which will be free, and VS2010 / Expression Pro will have a free add-on · WP7 will have isolated storage which is accessible using LINQ · The UX of WP7 is based upon a theme called “METRO” and is similar to Zune HD, but with a completely new “Start” screen. · No in browser Flash or SL · No multi-tasking (applications will pause when in the background, however they will support notifications using the MS Push Notifications environment) · Marketplace will support buy and try before you buy, as well as an API · ODM / OEM will not be able to modify the “Start” screen, so no more HTC Sense / TouchFlo etc. · Browsing experience is currently faster / better than iPhone 3G, and they are aiming towards 3GS. · Browser is based upon desktop IE7 codebase, but with some IE8 functionality · WP7 has full integration with XBOX Live, and ability to purchase games · WP7 will use the Zune software for music, videos, photos sync · WP7 only supports app installation through service based delivery i.e. marketplace, so no side-loading · MS will provide a hosted push notifications environment

Some other details on the platform include the fact that it will come with support for Silverlight (out of browser) and XNA, and that it will include Silverlight 3.0, with elements of 4.0, and with mobile specific features. There will be Silverlight apps built with Expression Blend 3.x and VS2010, the OS will have an equivalent of .NET CF embedded into SL, no .NET CF backwards compatibility, though it seems that a part of data and business logic in .NET CF could be ported.

Microsoft seems to be a little ahead of schedule with Windows Mobile 7, something that might come as a surprise, but the first handsets to run under the platform will land only in September this year. At the same time, the rumor suggests that there will be no phone coming from Microsoft, though the company will be involved more in the manufacturing process. “So as an example each device has a 3D processing chipset, and MS provide all of the device drivers,” the rumor says.