Windows 8 phone functionality spotted

Windows 8 could support voice calls, it’s been recommended, afterwards a Metro UI tile for phone functionality was spotted while a BUILD 2011 session last week. The slide, istartedsomething caught, has a Windows Phone 7 style “Missed Calls” dialog complete with times and dates of recent incoming voice calls. But, it’s as well possible that this could be a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service, or truly some form of wireless call management when pairing a Windows 8 tablet or phone with a Windows Phone 7 handset.

Example of the latter in webOS

We’ve already seen an example of the latter in webOS, with HP allowing TouchPad tablet owners to make and receive calls, as so then as send and receive SMS messages, on their Pre3 handset via a Bluetooth link and a dialog on the slate itself. Microsoft could then have a similar strategy in mind, trying to encourage platform loyalty among users by boosting the integration between its mobile and desktop OSes.

Of course, with Microsoft buying Skype, the calling functionality could then be VoIP baked into the platform. On the whole, digging through the Samsung tablet hardware distributed at BUILD last week has turned up a voice-capable 3G modem, which could imply that native calls are on the cards too. Whether users would as a matter of fact want to turn their tablet or notebook into a cellphone remains to be seen.