Windows Phone 7: A Solid Mobile Operating System
Among the many things we heard at Mobile World Congress, one reoccurring sentiment was a wish for another company to come along and challenge the status quo. Smartphone vendors and carriers want a third mobile operating system to balance the power of Android and iOS. Although WP7 is off to a slow start, we think it's in a good position to be that alternative option.
Before the year's end, Microsoft wants to be within reach of the number two spot, behind either Android or iOS. Even though the company's WP7 faces a long road to more mainstream acceptance, we think that it's a solid operating system with a lot to like. The user interface is clean and easy to navigate. Contact integration is solid, and the Bing services are useful on a day-to-day basis.
A few months ago, Microsoft started shipping 25 000 WP7-based smartphones to developers in the hopes of increasing dedication to WP7. With a little luck, this will result in the availability of new apps later this year.
