The mobile platform benefits from increased stability and security features

Jun 21, 2012 13:06 GMT  ·  By

Yesterday, Microsoft made official a load of details on its upcoming Windows Phone 8 operating system, including the fact that it arrives with a shared core with Windows 8.

The platform is the most advanced mobile operating system that Microsoft has ever launched, and is set to arrive on shelves later this year, only on new devices.

Codenamed Apollo, Windows Phone 8 will bring along great improvements over the previous versions of the OS, including support for better hardware, a set of UI changes, and new and improved software.

According to Microsoft, the improvements that users will benefit from in Windows Phone 8 come from another next-generation platform, namely Windows 8.

Just as rumored a few times before, the Redmond-based software giant decided to build both its mobile and desktop platforms on the same core.

“Many of Windows Phone 8’s new capabilities come from a surprising source: Windows, the most successful and powerful operating system on the planet, and one used by more than a billion people,” Joe Belfiore, corporate vice president of Microsoft, explains.

“Yes, you read that right: Windows Phone 8 is based on the same core technologies that power Windows 8. As a result, Windows Phone 8 will unleash a new wave of features for consumers, developers, and businesses.” Windows 8 was designed from the ground up with the same looks as Windows Phone. Although Microsoft did not offer specific info on this when unveiling Windows 8 last year, it became obvious that the two OSes would be connected.

Yesterday, Microsoft confirmed that the resemblance between the two extends well beyond their similar appearance.

In fact, the software company notes that the next release of Windows Phone has been built based on the technology core of Windows 8.

“It means Windows Phone and its bigger sibling will share common networking, security, media and web browser technology, and a common file system. That translates into better performance, more features, and new opportunities for app developers and hardware makers to innovate faster,” Belfiore explains.

But there’s more to it. It also means that Windows Phone 8 arrives with full C and C++ support, and that developers can now target more than a single platform when building applications using these tools.

The mobile platform got a better taste of multitasking as well, along with integrated Internet calling capabilities, and the same secure, fast and stable web navigation capabilities available on Windows 8, all courtesy of Internet Explorer 10.

The first Windows Phone 8 devices will arrive on shelves this fall, coming from companies such as Nokia, Samsung, Huawei and HTC. Unfortunately, the next-gen platform will not be released to existing devices as well.

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