The new Windows Phone 7

Now that smartphones are an established part of the 'smart' consumer network there's a growing concern that some of the habits of mobile phone users are not so smart and can even be dangerous.

October 2010 study released

An October 2010 study released by Microsoft showed that during over 70 per cent of respondents said bad mobile behaviour was a top gripe, only 18 per cent admitted to being guilty of it themselves. Interestingly, 49 per cent of adults between the ages of 18 and 24 said that they had tripped or bumped into something during walking and texting or emailing on their mobile phone.

One answer to this inherent mobile phone problem, both potential, and often all too embarrassingly real, is building a new type of smartphone that addresses the needs of today's users in an intelligent and intuitive way.

The very good news

The very good news, on time for the holiday season, is that Microsoft has done just that with its Windows Phone 7 based on MS Cloud Computing research that enables storage of massive amounts of multimedia files just as photos, songs and video without taking up valuable space on your phone.

Most smartphones available today, no matter their sleekness of design or impressive functions, are built around features like messaging and a browser with a backdrop of icons leading to siloed applications. Logical enough maybe from an before and more narrow perspective - now that model does not reflect how consumers today live their lives.

Acutely aware of this gap between today's consumer needs and what is available, Microsoft set out to create a mobile phone platform that not only provides consumers with what they want, now also exceeds expectations on every count with a new mobile experience that is really different.

The market at present

Windows Phone 7 is not only different from anything on the market at present, it's in a class of its own, bringing at the same time everything consumers want, easier and faster than ever previously.

Something that on the spur of the moment stands out is the new way in which information is presented by design in a simple, 'quick glance' style, with favourite functions organized after a fashion that makes access fast and ultra convenient. Day in day out tasks just as taking pictures, searching, interacting with contacts, and sending e-mail can all be accomplished in fewer steps with the new world of Windows phone 7.

High on the wish list of this year's seasonal gifts will be a smartphone and the message here has to be, get smart with your selection and chose a Windows Phone 7 model. If you've ever felt that much of today's mobile phone research is more about producing good looking, multi-functional products than providing a in point of fact integrated user experience at that time the all new WP7 platform will seem nothing short of revolutionary.

First, it delivers a phone experience that's in your face in the nicest possible way. Remember the claim that this particular smartphone is different from most others available today? So then here's one way it stands out from the crowd. Instead of a static screen filled with 'apps,' Windows Phone 7 makes use of 'Live Tiles' to constantly update users with new e-mail alerts or text messages or even when a Facebook friend changes their status or posts new images. That's not just smart, however useful too.

Want to change your Start Screen to suit your mood? With the Windows Phone 7 it's more than just about icons and shortcuts, you can use the screen like a virtual board and 'pin' whatever your current interests are. Feeling in a bright sunshine mood? You can as well change the screen colour or re-arrange those tiles as you wish.

At heart, Windows Phone 7 is about delivering 'people phones' - combining the phone itself with the Web and applications and using a series of 'hubs' to provide a fully integrated experience. Clearly there's a People Hub which acts like a central command that allows the user to easily stay connected by email, text messaging, voice, or Facebook. Move to the Pictures Hub and you'll get a dedicated camera button that works even when the phone is locked - a real boon when speed is of the essence. Music and videos as well benefit from their own hub which allows favourites to be synced wirelessly and played from a PC. Yes, they can as well be streamed or downloaded from Marketplace and custom playlists and podcasts can be enjoyed to the full.

Mobile platform built from scratch

It's reasonable to expect that a mobile platform built from scratch by Microsoft would have an Office Hub and this Windows Phone 7 does not disappoint. Mobile versions of Word, Excel and even PowerPoint are all on hand making it easy to review, edit, comment or share on the go. Plus, with OneNote Mobile that syncs wirelessly to Windows Live, keeping track of things to do requires just a quick glance, during SharePoint Workspace Mobile makes it easy to collaborate with colleagues wherever you are.

And yes - only Windows Phone 7 phones have Outlook Mobile. This means users can set up as many e-mail accounts as they like and benefit from powerful features including one-tap calling, mapping and access to documents.