Windows Phone 7 Launch Comes to NYC

Today was the long-awaited launch of the Microsoft Windows Phone 7. Keynoting the launch was Steve Ballmer. AT&T's Ralph de la Vega was also present and explained their commitment to Microsoft and Windows Phone 7.  Ballmer proudly exclaimed that they will have 60 mobile operators in over 30 countries to reveal the first Windows Phone 7 handsets. A broad selection of phones will begin shipping in holiday 2010 with more arriving in 2011.

There will be 9 phones available, from HTC to Dell to LG.

One of the main points that Ballmer and de la Vega kept driving was that "Windows Phone 7 is your phone." The mobile OS is designed to keep you in touch with the people who mean the most to you. If Microsoft designs a marketing campaign around that -- "Windows Phone 7 is your phone" -- Ww will not only see Microsoft do well this holiday but perhaps also take back a few percentage points from iOS and Android.

The US will see the first Windows Phone 7 on November 8, 2010. It will be the Samsung Focus on AT&T for $199.99; which will sport a Super AMOLED display. Other handsets will follow a few weeks after; like the LG Quantum for $199.99 and the HTC Surround for $199.99 -- both on AT&T.

The Windows Phone 7 Product Line is distinguishing themselves by:

• Microsoft's deep portfolio of products and services, such as Xbox LIVE, Microsoft Office Mobile, Zune, Windows Live and Bing


• The customizable Start screen with Live Tiles -- with real-time updates from the Web such as news, appointments or the status of friends


• Zune, which allows you to play music by syncing wirelessly from your PC, stream and download from the Windows Marketplace.


• Dedicated search button to help you find what you need -- contacts, music from the Market Place, e-mails or anything from the Web


• The Windows Live solution, which helps people manage pictures, Windows Live calendar, Office OneNote Mobile and more.

Here is a video with one of the Windows Phone 7 product mangers demo-ing the LG Quantum:

 

Follow Ramon Nuez on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ramonbnuezjr

Comments

[Hasam]

12:09 PM on 10/12/2010

I've had WinMo phone before, I even had an ipaq way back in 03-04. Then I had a blackberry for 3 years. Then something happened. The most amazing phone came, it was called the iphone. It totally changed my experience. Than last year I decided to try Android... oops what a mistake, Android has some nice features but they don't compare to the iphone. So today I want to go back to the iphone! after this contract ends I will never try anything other than Apple. Stick to the best, go with Apple!!

[Ramon Nuez]

03:18 PM on 10/12/2010

I understand you affection towards Apple -- the company is very seductive. I think Apple simply provides a great user experience which is difficult for any one company to match.

With that said -- before making the switch back to Apple; you should give Windows Phone 7 a test run. I think you will like what they have done -- it's most certainly not Windows Mobile x.x.

[TooLooze]

08:34 AM on 10/12/2010

Windows mobile is an absolutely pathetic operating system; I doubt W7 is much better.

[Ramon Nuez]

08:36 AM on 10/12/2010

I am just curious why you think it's a pathetic mobile OS?

[MrVee]

05:22 PM on 10/12/2010

He has no clue. Why bother asking.

But on the P7, it is really a polished looking device and I can think of a number of people who would love to get this. I like the layout, beyond the tiles at least. Which I think is like matching plaid shirt with striped pants, but beyond the plaid and stripes, that phone looks awesome as hell to me. My hope is if Microsoft ever gets around to releasing a tablet, they keep the same look and feel as the P7. With at least a 7 hour battery, that tablet would be sweet.

[jsgaetano]

01:02 AM on 10/12/2010

They lost me as soon as they said AT&T.

[Ramon Nuez]

08:23 AM on 10/12/2010

I can understand your apprehension but AT&T is simply Microsoft's launch partner in the US. You will also see T-Mobile and Sprint adding Windows Phone 7 to their portfolio.

It sounds like Verizon will not be adding Windows Phone 7 to its product line-up until 2011. Some are saying the reason why Verizon is slow to add the mobile OS is due to the Kin fiasco. Although -- Verizon has quickly released a statement saying that is simply not true.

[Prince Miles]

09:47 AM on 10/12/2010

The Verizon/Sprint delay is due to CDMA

[jsgaetano]

10:24 AM on 10/12/2010

I think Verizon is having more problems than just WinPhone 7. They still don't have iPhone, and yesterday I heard speculation they may be switching to 4G so they can support these new devices.

[Jane66]

11:24 PM on 10/11/2010

Far more phones at rollout than I had expected and Dell was a surprise to me. I love my iPhone, but with the products coming out from Google and Microsoft- I may have to really look at the other options when my contact renewal is up. These all look like solid offerings from Apple, Google, and Microsoft. Can't say anything about HP as we haven't seen that yet.
http://www.ifunia.com/news/windows-phone-7-launch-in-london-and-nyc/

[Ramon Nuez]

08:37 AM on 10/12/2010

With so many smartphones hitting the market what is shaping your decision to purchase a handset? Is it the mobile OS -- Android, iOS or Windows Phone 7? Will it be the features of the handset? Will it be the carrier? Or is it something else entirely?Please let me know.

[flapic]

10:38 AM on 10/12/2010

For me, first comes the mobile OS. I want to be sure of its functions and UI!

I used all the OSes on the market and know how they work, and IMHO Android is the best now (with Symbian very close… I know what you're thinking now, especially in N.America, but if you give it a serious try I am sure you’ll agree with me!). A quick look to Windows Phone 7 did not really excite me…

Then comes the hardware specs, but always keeping in mind the kind of device they are mounted in: for instance the CPU speed is not an absolute value, as the megapixels are not for a camera, and sometimes a slower processor can guarantee better performances (for instance in terms of battery life) than a fast one.

And the brand… I’d never buy an Acer smartphone, and I don’t think LG can stay in the race even though they make decent feature phones. Nokia, Samsung and HTC are the best IMHO, while Sony Ericsson lost a lot in the past few years even if their Xperias look nice.

I don’t care of the carrier, Phones are not locked in Italy and I find it stupid from overseas operators!

So, here my top 3 smartphones among those available or coming soon (in Europe - so no only-USA phones I could not test):

1. HTC Desire HD (and the Desire family)
2. Nokia N8 (but also C7 and E7)
3. Samsung Galaxy S

[Synoia]

10:52 AM on 10/12/2010

I need to be able to place the phone by my ear and not have it magically do things if it touches my face.
I need the microphone and loudspeaker on the opposite side of the phone from the screen, see above.
I need a way to keep it clean.
I need a 19 inch screen.
I need it to broadcast sound on a low power FM frequency for hands free operation in my non-bluetooth equipped car.
I need big buttons to type or phone, I have big fingers.
I need to be able to dial numbers with my thumb.
I live in socal, so I need to be able to see the details on the screen in direct sunlight.
I need a cradle, or two, to recharge the phone, two of my phones have failed due to the continual re-insertion of the charging plug.
I need no buttons on the side where I grip the phone.
I need buttons for volume control that I can use when talking on a phone call.
I need skype (or not to be ripped off by the phone companies for international calls)
It needs to be waterproof. I ruined one phone when I dropped in into a cup of coffee.