Windows Mobile 7 to Include SeaDragon Zooming

The next-generation Windows Mobile 7 operating system from Microsoft is shaping up into a very attractive mobile platform. The Redmond-based software giant is already known to plan on enhancing it with great functionality, including over-the-air software updates, better integration with various services, greater user friendliness, support for Zune and Xbox Live, or Silverlight integration, and now we learn that even more goodies might be on their way to the platform, including the SeaDragon zoom tech some of you might be already aware of.

A job ad on the company's website, a reference to which was found by WMPoweruser over at istartedsomething, shows that Microsoft's Seadragon team is looking for developers that would help it bring the technology to Windows Mobile 7. The upcoming operating system flavor was already rumored a while back to come with Deep Zoom capabilities based on Silverlight integration, and it seems that this is not the only feature users will be able to enjoy as soon as the platform version arrives on the market. Here's what the job ad states:

“We’re currently seeking a Lead Developer who’s excited to make a huge impact on Microsoft by bringing Seadragon concepts and code to Microsoft products. We have already put Seadragon in Silverlight. Now we want to take it everywhere: Windows 8, Windows Mobile 7, WPF, XNA. You will be the one building and leading the team to accomplish this challenging task. Experience working as a lead or IC in one or more of these platforms is beneficial, but the ability to quickly ramp up and deliver features in any foreign codebase is crucial to success. IC skills of expert C and C++ are an absolute must, while managed interop experience is also great to have. API design skills and, in particular, the ability to collaborate with another team on how Seadragon technology can be properly exposed according to the native environment will be necessary attributes.”

The job advertisement is more than six months old, which can only suggest that the work on bringing the technology to Windows Mobile 7 has already started. Coupled with the entire range of other goodies that Microsoft has been already said to pack inside the upcoming platform, it can only make users rejoice at the thought of leveraging their experience. The SeaDragon has been already ported to the iPhone, and having it on Windows Mobile was somehow the next obvious step. The WM 7 flavor of the OS is expected to come to the market in late 2010, which means that we might have to wait a little longer before all of its capabilities are unveiled.