Dec 13, 2010 13:37 GMT  ·  By

Mobile phones running under Microsoft's new Windows Phone 7 operating system would charge only when powered on, as the charging process has been reportedly set to be controlled by the operating system.

Basically, this meant that, in case the handset is plugged in while turned off, it would turn on automatically. Moreover, if one tries to turn it offer while charging, the handset would only reboot.

When asked on Microsoft Answers why do the Windows Phone 7 devices behave this way, a moderator answered the following:

Personally I don't like this behavior too but there are several reasons for it:

- main one would be that the charging process is now controlled by OS and therefore it must be running - on many feature phones (including WP7) alarms are not working when the device is turned off - wireless Zune synchronization

Basically, in case one user plugs in the Windows Phone 7 device for charging and it boots up, he/she should know that this is normal behavior.

Devices powered by other mobile operating systems out there enable users to charge them even at times when they are turned off, and this applies to handsets powered by Microsoft's older Windows Mobile platform as well.

Of course, it is rather interesting that Microsoft decided to design the Windows Phone 7 OS this way, but those who would like to purchase and use such devices would have to accept this.

As for the reasons invoked for this state of facts, at least two of them stand up, including the OS control for a proper charging, and the wireless syncing with the PC, which would be performed only at times when the device is plugged in.

As for the fact that some features of the handset won't work while it was turned off, such as the Alarm, this is the same behavior as with Windows Mobile, or even other mobile platforms out there, including Android, a recent article on Pocketnow reads.