Windows Phone 7 similar to Zune HD?

25th January, 2010 by adina
Tags: Mobiles, Windows, Windows Phone 7, Zune HD

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Windows Phone 7 is the possible commercial name of the Windows Mobile 7 and could completely break with the version 6 of the operating system. A developer claims that the version 7 mimics the Zune HD with phone elements included. Microsoft’s services are expected to run deep and would include social services, Xbox Live gaming and even an application store with an easy approval procedure.

This dramatic change would probably have the consequence of ceasing compatibility with the version 6 of the Windows Mobile, keeping only a few basic programs compatible with the older version, according to a MobileCrunch source. The new OS will run mostly on .NET and Silverlight, so that developers will have the task of completely rewrite most of the software. This perspective would probably risk making many developers to reconsider keeping the platform.

The new version would also be accompanied by strict hardware requirements, and companies would have to respect tight limits such as screen sizes, base processors and RAM capacity.

This change of strategy is part of a conscious move of Microsoft towards replicating the iPhone business model regarding media and games versus the traditional Windows Mobile’s focus on business users’ variety. A Business Edition of Windows Phone 7 is rumoured to be more flexible than the above announced version, which would represent the ideal experience where hardware and software link closely.

The actual approach proved to be necessary as companies like LG, Samsung, Motorola, Palm and others have backed away from the Windows Mobile platform in its current form to use Android instead, or other platforms that are more modern and user-friendly. Whether they will be successful or not is to be proved. Microsoft itself has tried a similar strategy by abandoning PlaysForSure in favour of the Zune. The player is still one of the larger MP3 player actors on the market but has only a small fraction of the share belonging to Apple’s iPod and is often shadowed by SanDisk too.

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