14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is pretty thrilled about its new Windows Phone 7 operating system, which was launched yesterday, and revealed a few things about its gaming capabilities, and how it considers the new platform a whole new games console.
Windows Phone 7 will enter the ring of mobile operating systems and face off against Apple's hugely popular iOS, seen on iPhones and iPod Touches, and Google's Android, as seen on many other devices.
Gaming will be an important part of the new Microsoft operating system, and the company wants to incorporate with its other devices like Zune or the Xbox 360.
"We're going to have a launch portfolio of games that's bigger than the one we had with the Xbox 360," said Kevin Unangst, senior global director for Games for Windows.
"We're fully thinking of [this platform] as a games console. Games like Fruit Ninja will be important, harnessing a number of features like access to friends and connecting to other Xbox Live users."
Windows Phone 7 will get new features in the future, as the company wants to implement cross-platform applications and connect the Xbox 360 and the Xbox Live online service with phones running its new operating system.
"We've talked about the possibility in the future to use DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) to use your Windows Phone as a companion screen [where additional content would be displayed alongside the main game]," he said.
"And it could be that one day you pay a simple price and get the same game in various forms on multiple devices - although that won't be coming at launch."
Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 has a lot of catching up to do though, as Apple currently dominates mobile phone gaming, and Android isn't that far behind.
Also, if we're talking about portable gaming systems, don't forget the 800 pound gorilla that is the Nintendo DS, and the future Nintendo 3DS.
Do you think Windows Phone 7 has what it takes to attract gamers?