The Current State of Windows Phone 7
July 21, 2010 [Pocket PC phone] | By Edward J. R.
written by Michael Sanchez
I recently challenged Ed in the forums here at msmobiles.com to allow me to write about MS and WP7 to bring balance to the site. I have been reading msmobiles.com for a while now because I too believe that we need to be brutally honest about the outlook of Microsoft in mobility. Microsoft does not have a hill to climb but tall jagged mountains and treacherous terrain to overcome to regain relevance in the fastest growing computing arena. Every mistake will be costly, measured and magnified because so many people are invested in other mature platforms (Blackberry, Android, iOs, even WebOs), the company behind the platform (Rim, Google, Apple, HP) or a combination of the two. Even some (if not all) of the the panel members on the msmobiles podcast have invested in one of these other platforms to some degree. In order to truly understand why WP7 may fail is to first understand why consumers (not only power users) moved on to other platforms or chose them in the first place. For the normal consumer the list is short:
- App Selection (larger is better, sorry guys) (Games, Entertainment, News, Social)
- User Experience (emphasis on speed, lack of bugs, cohesion minus confusion, great aesthetics, some form of multitasking for compelling services)
- Form factor (different choices is better)
- Absolutely works great as a communications device
- Affordability
- Compatibility
- Has a camera(s) that absolutely work and without lag
Microsoft has developed a new platform that provides the ability for most of these things to happen and for them to work well enough. Unfortunately for Microsoft, all of these things are already available to consumers today and will have 3 - 5 months to get even better. Another problem for Microsoft is that they just handed the competition developer devices (indirectly) and enabled them a significant amount of time to enhance these services. What can Google, Rim or Apple give you in that time frame?
- Many, many more apps choices in the areas that consumers care about most
- Enhanced user experience in every regard (Gingerbread and Blackberry OS 6 should really scare MS).
- A new generation of devices far exceeding the minimum specs (expected specs) of first gen Windows Phone 7 devices.
- Better cohesion as a communications device with customization options
- Cheaper devices that are extremely capable
- Backward compatibility to hundreds of thousands of applications
- Two cameras that absolutely work
To Microsoft's detriment every mobile os will do all or some of these things better in that time frame. Actually, they will get tremendously better. Cloud music will come just in time for Google and Apple. Microsoft's cloud content "advantage" for music, media will be gone (yes, this could have been an advantage, Zune Marketplace and software is leaps and bounds better than iTunes and Zune pass is fabulous). Google and Apple will have them right just in time to make MS look like the copycat instead of the innovator. Facetime, Fring and Skype will make the regular camera and video recording abilities look antiquated. Quality of the app catalogues will grow faster. Android devices will get cheaper and come in every form factor. Microsoft would be behind the curve even if this OS came out today!
So this must mean that WP7 has failed already. Actually, they have not by a long shot. Microsoft has a good product with WP7 and they have some secrets in store. Things are grim but I have not carved Microsoft into the tombstone just yet. For the power users like me, it is pretty much dead on arrival. No multi-tasking or cut/paste in the current market is absolutely unacceptable and will be mentioned in every technical review. Are they absolutely necessary? When all other competitors have it the simple answer is and will remain YES no matter how you slice it and must be labeled practical inclusions to the user experience. It is troubling indeed that they repeatedly say they will not be there at launch. I think I speak for everyone at msmobiles that they make both happen out of the gate. As a fanboy of tech, I am practically begging them. If it is missing, I hope the “secrets” behind this OS are absolutely and undeniably compelling. Xbox mobility may be the only sucker punch they have and they have not convinced anyone that will be ready either.
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