Historically, the Windows Mobile platform has been a miniaturized version of essentially Windows 95 that packed many powerful features like Exchange support, handwriting recognition, and the same basic voice recognition that now powers the Microsoft Auto platform behind Ford Sync. Along with all that power, came convoluted menu systems, required use of a stylus, and complete control given to the hardware maker as well as the carrier to make any modifications to the UI they desired. As a result, Microsoft made very little effort (prior to the release of 6.5 last year) to keep the UI up-to-date and left that up to the hardware manufacturers like HTC who used that to differentiate their hardware offerings. This actually became a competitive advantage for HTC with the releases of several successful interface skins like TouchFlo 3D and Sense UI.
Today, Microsoft unveiled the new version of Windows Mobile called “Windows Phone 7 Series.” The interface draws from the Zune platform (which by the way was never commercially successful against the iPod) and marks a strong departure from Windows Mobile, which they are now calling “Windows Phone Classic.” One of the most interesting parts about the interface design is that the Hub view would translate very well into a tablet form factor. Microsoft reiterated several times that the phone is not a PC, so they have definitely learned from Apple that a phone can still be compelling even if it is not a “PocketPC.”
The most intriguing part of the announcement is that despite having dozens of hardware partners, Microsoft appears to have shifted its focus to tighter control and more integration across device manufacturers. This means a unified UI experience called Metro will apparently appear on every device. Metro uses cloud-based updating tiles for status updates on services like Facebook, and these tiles are customizable so while hardware makers will be unable to make wholesale changes to the interface they will be allowed some level of customization. In addition, high-end technical specifications are required on the hardware such as a capacitive touchscreen display, camera, a fast processor, and lots of RAM — even more notable is the maximum of five physical buttons — historically Windows Mobile devices have been covered in buttons and this is something Microsoft wants to avoid. The iPhone debuted with just two physical buttons and a volume up/down button, Microsoft takes another page from Apple here too.
Historically, Windows Mobile phones have run a very slimmed down version of Internet Explorer for browsing websites on the go. When the iPhone introduced Safari Mobile browser it raised the bar not only for web design but consumers’ expectations of mobile web browsers. There were many replacement browsers for Windows Mobile including Opera, SkyFire, and even Mozilla was working on a mobile version of Firefox that was never completed. Windows Phone 7 Series promises a full-featured web browser with pinch to zoom, just like Apple’s mobile Safari web browser.
Overall, Windows Phone 7 Series brings nearly the level of innovation that we saw with Palm’s webOS on the Palm Pre and a more unified user interface than Google’s Android, while striking a lot of the same chords of simplicity normally found in Apple’s products.
