What do you think of Windows Phone 7?

[p-slim]

Originally Posted by zim2323

Where did you read there weren't 2 editions? What I read was a quote from a Microsoft Exec early on at the conference. Granted I can't find the article now, but I do remember that specifically.

That being said, I'm an IT Consultant with almost 10 years of experience with Exchange. For those of you who don't have any real world BUSINESS experience, then your conclusion would seem rational. However, if you also knew how much money Microsoft has poored into Unified Communications for their mobile phones, you would realize just how different the end result may actually be. Either a lot more functionality is going to be integrated before launch, or there will be two phone editions. One for the corporate user and one for the home user.

For those that aren't in the know, the entire Exchange, Sharepoint, Office, and Communication server/application suite is literally built around the Windows mobile phone platform. I see no reason why they would outdate millions of dollars in research and development. Everything they have been working on, and still developing for, the past 5-7 years has been integrating the enterprise environment into the mobile phone world. The whole idea is that you can use your phone as a complete office assistant to manage calendars, email, voicemail, etc.

Too many people look at this from a personal/home based viewpoint. Microsoft is DRIVEN by the business world. If they can't integrate their Exchange/communication product line in with their phone, then they just waisted the last 7 years of development. Why do you think they've been working so hard on remote sync capability. You honestly think they would do all that work just to throw it away?

From the business world, there may be more iPhone, Blackberry, etc., but to TRULY have a unified communication environment, you HAVE to have a Microsoft Windows phone. I personally have sat in classes over the last 2 years where half the class was Lucent communications engineers learning how the Exchange and mobile phone products work in order to integrate their PBX systems and develop unified communication suite software to match.

The "big picture" is a LOT bigger then what the non-business mind can see.

what they showed us has exchange and every other business function included into what we saw demonstrated. the only thing that a business edition my have would be less hubs (ie the xbox live hub) or an additional looking business hub for all business products in one place but the overall look and ui isn't going to change at all and the functionality of the phone isn't going to change. So the only thing left to ask is what you mean by business customer? They didn't show how mobile office or excel works because there isn't anything new with that. the ui is new and that is what was shown off, but if you mean business where you think you can unlock and run custom ui's, or run custom roms, or decide where apps are loaded from, there isn't going to be any difference from business customer or regular consumer. At most there is going to be a business hub.

[zim2323]

Originally Posted by p-slim

what they showed us has exchange and every other business function included into what we saw demonstrated. the only thing that a business edition my have would be less hubs (ie the xbox live hub) or an additional looking business hub for all business products in one place but the overall look and ui isn't going to change at all and the functionality of the phone isn't going to change. So the only thing left to ask is what you mean by business customer? They didn't show how mobile office or excel works because there isn't anything new with that. the ui is new and that is what was shown off, but if you mean business where you think you can unlock and run custom ui's, or run custom roms, or decide where apps are loaded from, there isn't going to be any difference from business customer or regular consumer. At most there is going to be a business hub.

From what I originally read, there currently is no Exchange functionality in the product, but I may have missed that. I have only watched one video. I never intended to imply that there would be a different UI. Any more then there was in Windows Mobile Standard to Windows Mobile Professional. However, I could see them adding multitasking and other missing functionality for the business user back in for a Business/Pro version of the OS.

Personally I think 2 editions is dumb. Put everything in one and call it a day. Do something like SPB does and offer a specific UI based on how you want to use the phone, business vs personal. Lots of people here are complaining about what they "think" Mobile7 doesn't have based one what they've seen so far (too much speculation). All I'm saying is that there is a LOT more going on behind the scenes then what people give credit for. Whether everyone likes the direction Microsoft is taking not, you can't please everyone. I personally can't see Microsoft completely shutting down customization. And until I see the final product with everything removed, I refuse to believe that they will.

Here's hoping it's everything we thought it could be, and much more! Personally I love the UI. I've played with a ZuneHD and love the way they've done the interface. I would still like to see traditional access to a file explorer and other basic system level components.

[champ052005]

Originally Posted by p-slim

what they showed us has exchange and every other business function included into what we saw demonstrated. the only thing that a business edition my have would be less hubs (ie the xbox live hub) or an additional looking business hub for all business products in one place but the overall look and ui isn't going to change at all and the functionality of the phone isn't going to change. So the only thing left to ask is what you mean by business customer? They didn't show how mobile office or excel works because there isn't anything new with that. the ui is new and that is what was shown off, but if you mean business where you think you can unlock and run custom ui's, or run custom roms, or decide where apps are loaded from, there isn't going to be any difference from business customer or regular consumer. At most there is going to be a business hub.

You said you can't decide where to load apps in, and how you can't unlock the phone or run custom roms, but you are basing these as facts when they are just rumors.

I think people are getting too ahead of themselves after the presentation. I agree, the Microsoft's unveiling has raised many questions and no answers. But that is where we are, questions with zero answers. We can assume it can't multi-task or we can assume we can't unlock it, we can assume there isn't anything new with excel or office. But the bottom line is: these are all assumptions. We are all judging a book by its cover. We haven't seen the whole OS, we haven't seen the guts yet. Simply the aesthetics of the OS so far.

We need to wait it out until MIX so we can see more of the OS as a whole. We only saw a glimpse of the new features.

IMO, the unveiling was a brilliant move in marketing strategy. I think Microsoft has finally learned that marketing is everything in the mobile world and they just pulled off the first step. They unveiled the product, and they now have everyone talking about it. They have everyone scratching their heads and wanting to see and know more! BRILLIANT! This strategy is going to keep the OS alive until the launch. If they showed off everything, the OS will be dead in the public's eyes before the launch date.

[DAD-PC]

Looks fairly easy to use, which, considering I work in phone retail, its a huge plus. At least where I'm from, more people out there have no idea how to use or customize their phone than there are people who do (in fact, most people simply don't care, they want to make calls, send texts, or use the web with as little effort as possible).

I believe this preview shows a step in the right direction for Microsoft to target those people.

As for phone enthusiast that are upset, well, you account for a much smaller portion of profit for microsoft, and also the most trouble. You get around their edits with hacks, and lower profit margins for both microsoft and the carriers (look how many people here are getting around the Phone as Modem restriction, costing the Carriers varying amounts of money and reducing their prospective profit (note, I'm one of those people )).

Once we get more info on the platform, I'll make an opinion of it in regards to myself. Personally, I think the WebOS is the best OS I've come across, but I really like my TP2 form factor, and am ok with WinMO, but its just not as slick as WebOS.

[Cicatrize]

From what I've seen so far, I'm fairly certain I'll be switching to Android.

[davidetkin511]

If its true that wm7 wont run 3rd party applications then I might just get and HD2 (or tp3 if it comes out) and use wm6.5. I cant imagine having a phone without groovefish, igo8 all my other apps.

[p-slim]

Originally Posted by davidetkin511

If its true that wm7 wont now 3rd party applications then I might just get and HD2 (or tp3 if it comes out) and use wm6.5. I cant imagine having a phone without groovefish, igo8 all my other apps.

I don't think you guys are looking at the whole picture. Why would you want to run those old apps. I have a nexus and there are way better apps that do the same things as those programs if not better apps. I was the biggest fan of groovefish but I definitely don't miss it. Now I use imusic (no it has nothing to do with iTunes) which does the same things plus has more features, also I don't have to worry about the string ending one day and the app not working. Not to mention the apps will look 10x better then the apps we currently have. The apps that will become available will trump anything you currently have now.

[jhanson999]

Originally Posted by p-slim

I don't think you guys are looking at the whole picture. Why would you want to run those old apps. I have a nexus and there are way better apps that do the same things as those programs if not better apps. I was the biggest fan of groovefish but I definitely don't miss it. Now I use imusic (no it has nothing to do with iTunes) which does the same things plus has more features, also I don't have to worry about the string ending one day and the app not working. Not to mention the apps will look 10x better then the apps we currently have. The apps that will become available will trump anything you currently have now.

Because I've purchased quite a few apps, and I not only refuse to consider those purchases now worthless, I refuse to buy them all over again from some app store. Now they may come up with some kind of free download for the people who have purchased before, but it will still require some kind of waiting period for those apps to be recreated on the new system. And on that note, not being able to install of an SD card infuriates me. I have all my important apps saved on my SD card, so after a flash or in a time of need, I have them all right there, ready to go. I definitely don't want to have to re-download them every time I need them.

[p-slim]

Originally Posted by jhanson999

Because I've purchased quite a few apps, and I not only refuse to consider those purchases now worthless, I refuse to buy them all over again from some app store. Now they may come up with some kind of free download for the people who have purchased before, but it will still require some kind of waiting period for those apps to be recreated on the new system. And on that note, not being able to install of an SD card infuriates me. I have all my important apps saved on my SD card, so after a flash or in a time of need, I have them all right there, ready to go. I definitely don't want to have to re-download them every time I need them.

Those are valid concerns especially when talking about your already purchased apps, but as for everything else, the app store will keep your downloads for you so you can really download from there and also the marketplace will be nice because if there is an update for an app on your phone the marketplace lets you know by a notification, it will be a better experience for the user. Also being that wp7 should just work, you wont be flashing as often, flashing for what? I kind if like not flashing because for instance my shazam songs are always there now, the ones I tagged. Certain info got lost every flash.

[jethro_static]

HAHAHA! There are still people here in obvious denial. They are thingking that there are 2 versions. And was praying to god that the other version has a fully working multitasking that they have for a long time.
Why would MS do that? Put the best on 1 version and left the other version out? They want everyone to buy the better version and nobody for the other bcoz it lacks major functionality?
WOW. Give it up. MWC is over. MS needed to do what they needed to do. You think MS is just teasing people and later reveal that "We just wanna see people's reaction, Here is the real WP7" LOL

Business version of WP7? WM have a very small part in business phones. Apple and RIM owns it. Very few companies use WM for their businesses. And people here are looking for a business version of WP7 hoping it will still have the major functionalities they want. Let me tell you people, MS do not care about you anymore. They care about the masses and sales. Even if all PPCGeeks buy WM, they are still behind in the competition. They need to penetrate the teenager,sucker moms, college students, middle age people etc. the market that iPhone has.