I remember when people hailed Windows 7 Phone Series 7 Mobile as being the right blend of hardware choice (Android) and software smoothness (iPhone). To me, Microsoft's stipulations and rules a make it far too restrictive to get hardware choice…, every phone will be nearly identical in configuration and the software is locked down. It seems that you see it as the best of both worlds. I see it as the worst of both.

It's probably too little too late for them anyway. It's not even a business class phone besides having office (which other smartphone platforms have replacements for). It appears too consumer-y…, they'll probably lose that market to RIM and iPhone. With Microsoft having to PAY developers to develop for them, it looks like they are pretty desperate.

It's Window Phone 7. That's it. I'm with Daniel on this one. If you think that the hardware specs above are going eliminate the possibility for form factors other than the typical, slate device, then you are absolutely kidding yourself. The majority of the specs mentioned, purely ensure that the OS runs smoothly and have no affect on the form factor of devices. If you read through the specs again, you will see that manufacturers can make the phone whatever shape they want as long as it has a 4-point multitouch, capacitive touchscreen. This eliminates the form factor of anything that doesn't have a touchscreen, just like Android does. Nowhere does it say manufacturers can't make slider devices, flip-style devices (not a fan of this one, but still), candybar QWERTY devices (with a touchscreen, much like the new Motorola Charm), and of course the oh-so-common slate device. Unless I'm reading a different spec sheet than you are, I don't see how WP7 is any less flexible with its hardware's form factor than Android is. Instead, Microsoft just prevents the platform from having slow, laggy devices like Android's Motorola Cliq, or HTC's Droid Eris. Seems like a good move to me.

As far as WP7 not being a business class device, I guess it depends on your definition of “business class.” When I think business, I think Exchange. If you think anyone is going to do Exchange better than Microsoft, you're high and drunk. The only thing I can think of that makes WP7 devices unfit for business users is that there is no option for a phone without a camera, which is a problem for many government employees. While RIM's BlackBerry may be the leading business device in the market currently, if Microsoft's WP7 can match RIM's notorious level of security in its implementation of Exchange, then RIM may have a tough competitor on their hands. BES (BlackBerry Enterprise Server) is expensive for businesses, and while very secure and effective, if Microsoft can do something equivalent without the high premiums, I see a lot of businesses being interested in WP7.

I agree that Microsoft has a big challenge on their hands to start a new OS from nothing, and more importantly to try to get enough developer support to make WP7 devices appealing from an application perspective. For consumers, I think Microsoft has to really push their integration with Xbox Live and the ability to continue playing console games on WP7 devices. As for businesses, they need to tout their amazing Exchange integration, and how wonderful office will be for business.

At this point, I still think it's too early to really tell how good Windows Phone 7 will be. We need to see some final hardware, and more importantly, how the OS runs on that finalized hardware and what developers can do to innovate on the platform.

I remember when people hailed Windows 7 Phone Series 7 Mobile as being the right blend of hardware choice (Android) and software smoothness (iPhone). To me, Microsoft’s stipulations and rules a make it far too restrictive to get hardware choice…, every phone will be nearly identical in configuration and the software is locked down. It seems that you see it as the best of both worlds. I see it as the worst of both.

It’s probably too little too late for them anyway. It’s not even a business class phone besides having office (which other smartphone platforms have replacements for). It appears too consumer-y…, they’ll probably lose that market to RIM and iPhone. With Microsoft having to PAY developers to develop for them, it looks like they are pretty desperate.

Obviously the Windows 7 Series Phone Mobile 7 thing was a joke. The original title of the platform was mocked everywhere for being stupid.

Pff…, all buzz talk.
It's interesting, like Maeomo or Palm, but it's going to take a lot to be successful. Microsoft can't even get the Kin selling nor keep current Windows Mobile devices selling. Nokia's and Palm's fantastical reboots didn't work. I'm not too optimistic. Even if Microsoft sinks untold amounts of money into the project, it won't take down Android nor iPhone, the only two relevant platforms these days.

I WANT Microsoft to succeed here. The product is sweet. I want Nokia and RIM to vanish, can't stay relevant, they shouldn't be allowed to exist because they were lucky. I just don't see it happening…,

It’s Window Phone 7. That’s it. I’m with Daniel on this one. If you think that the hardware specs above are going eliminate the possibility for form factors other than the typical, slate device, then you are absolutely kidding yourself. The majority of the specs mentioned, purely ensure that the OS runs smoothly and have no affect on the form factor of devices. If you read through the specs again, you will see that manufacturers can make the phone whatever shape they want as long as it has a 4-point multitouch, capacitive touchscreen. This eliminates the form factor of anything that doesn’t have a touchscreen, just like Android does. Nowhere does it say manufacturers can’t make slider devices, flip-style devices (not a fan of this one, but still), candybar QWERTY devices (with a touchscreen, much like the new Motorola Charm), and of course the oh-so-common slate device. Unless I’m reading a different spec sheet than you are, I don’t see how WP7 is any less flexible with its hardware’s form factor than Android is. Instead, Microsoft just prevents the platform from having slow, laggy devices like Android’s Motorola Cliq, or HTC’s Droid Eris. Seems like a good move to me.

As far as WP7 not being a business class device, I guess it depends on your definition of “business class.” When I think business, I think Exchange. If you think anyone is going to do Exchange better than Microsoft, you’re high and drunk. The only thing I can think of that makes WP7 devices unfit for business users is that there is no option for a phone without a camera, which is a problem for many government employees. While RIM’s BlackBerry may be the leading business device in the market currently, if Microsoft’s WP7 can match RIM’s notorious level of security in its implementation of Exchange, then RIM may have a tough competitor on their hands. BES (BlackBerry Enterprise Server) is expensive for businesses, and while very secure and effective, if Microsoft can do something equivalent without the high premiums, I see a lot of businesses being interested in WP7.

I agree that Microsoft has a big challenge on their hands to start a new OS from nothing, and more importantly to try to get enough developer support to make WP7 devices appealing from an application perspective. For consumers, I think Microsoft has to really push their integration with Xbox Live and the ability to continue playing console games on WP7 devices. As for businesses, they need to tout their amazing Exchange integration, and how wonderful office will be for business.

At this point, I still think it’s too early to really tell how good Windows Phone 7 will be. We need to see some final hardware, and more importantly, how the OS runs on that finalized hardware and what developers can do to innovate on the platform.

Obviously the Windows 7 Series Phone Mobile 7 thing was a joke. The original title of the platform was mocked everywhere for being stupid. Pff…, all buzz talk. It’s interesting, like Maemo or Palm, but it’s going to take a lot to be successful. Microsoft can’t even get the Kin selling nor keep current Windows Mobile devices selling. Nokia’s and Palm’s fantastical reboots didn’t work. I’m not too optimistic. Even if Microsoft sinks untold amounts of money into the project, it won’t take down Android nor iPhone, the only two relevant platforms these days. I WANT Microsoft to succeed here. The product is sweet. I want Nokia and RIM to vanish, can’t stay relevant, they shouldn’t be allowed to exist because they were lucky. I just don’t see it happening…,

edit: fixed spelling of maemo

Sorry, Clark, but RIM was never lucky. They worked their asses off in the early years of the decade to be the only choice for businesses. Then they worked even harder pushing their devices to every carrier in every country, touting their push email and instant chat capabilities. They are one of the most recognized, powerful brands in the world, and they did all this not through innovation because god knows they haven't innovated in years, but through sheer populism and brand proliferation.

A Blackberry is no longer a unique device, but it is by far still the best pocket device for text input anywhere. If you claim that Apple's keyboard is capable of putting up the same WPM that an experienced BB user can, I will take that bet any day.

I hate and love RIM, but I don't think anyone can say with a straight face that they got to where they did out of luck.

Says the Canadian

Looks like those Swiper people can text faster than BB people anyway.

Sorry, Clark, but RIM was never lucky. They worked their asses off in the early years of the decade to be the only choice for businesses. Then they worked even harder pushing their devices to every carrier in every country, touting their push email and instant chat capabilities. They are one of the most recognized, powerful brands in the world, and they did all this not through innovation because god knows they haven’t innovated in years, but through sheer populism and brand proliferation.

A Blackberry is no longer a unique device, but it is by far still the best pocket device for text input anywhere. If you claim that Apple’s keyboard is capable of putting up the same WPM that an experienced BB user can, I will take that bet any day.

I hate and love RIM, but I don’t think anyone can say with a straight face that they got to where they did out of luck.

Says the Canadian

Looks like those Swiper people can text faster than BB people anyway.

Sorry, Clark, but RIM was never lucky. They worked their asses off in the early years of the decade to be the only choice for businesses. Then they worked even harder pushing their devices to every carrier in every country, touting their push email and instant chat capabilities. They are one of the most recognized, powerful brands in the world, and they did all this not through innovation because god knows they haven't innovated in years, but through sheer populism and brand proliferation.

A Blackberry is no longer a unique device, but it is by far still the best pocket device for text input anywhere. If you claim that Apple's keyboard is capable of putting up the same WPM that an experienced BB user can, I will take that bet any day.

I hate and love RIM, but I don't think anyone can say with a straight face that they got to where they did out of luck.

Says the Canadian

Looks like those Swiper people can text faster than BB people anyway.