14 DAY TRIAL // South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung is among the first companies to have a working Windows Phone 7 handset prototype, which means that it might also be among the first to come to the market with an actual device later during the ongoing year. We already had the chance to have a glimpse at a Samsung device running under Windows Phone 7 back in February, yet recently spotted videos offer a closer look at the said device, and, of course, at the operating system it runs under.
[Admark=1]The two clips embedded at the bottom of this article were shot during Microsoft’s ReMIX event, and were brought to the web by the guys over at mobiletechworld. The handset that can be seen there is a Samsung prototype device, which was previously said to be nothing else but an Omnia i8910 that sports a series of modifications. As required by the Windows Phone 7 platform, the handset packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset inside, a nice enhancement from the TI OMAP 3430 present in Omnia HD.
Even if the prototype has small chances of hitting the market, it was still designed so as to work flawlessly, it seems. According to mobiletechworld, all of its features were functional, including GPS, data, or camera, and the integration with Windows Phone 7 resulted in a smooth mobile experience, on par with what the iPhone can offer. There are no guarantees here but, in case the handsets that will bring Windows Phone 7 to shelves will work in the same manner, the odds are good for Microsoft to regain its foothold on the smartphone market, and even start gaining more share.
The first video below will offer you a walk through the prototype's menus, while the second one offers a preview of what gaming on Windows Phone 7 might be all about. The demo shows an Xbox Live Arcade / iPhone game port dubbed Twin Blades by Press Star Studio (which was reportedly brought to Windows Phone 7 in only two weeks). The game comes with XBOX Live integration with achievements and is expected to become available for users when the mobile operating system is launched later this year.