Tech Review

Earlier this month at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Microsoft Inc. premiered what they called the ultimate iPhone OS killer, dubbed Windows Mobile 7. The mobile platform shocked critics and re-introduced windows mobile in the competitive mobile arena lineup. The actual operating system is nothing like its previous versions that you can find today.

The new version incorporates not only its Zune counterpart but introduces a new integration with the Xbox live platform currently used for Microsoft's gaming console. The essence of the new platform is to compete with the current iPhone and Android operating systems. With big names such as Apple and Google behind both platforms, Microsoft was pushed into a corner and left with no choice but to start from scratch.

If you're familiar with Windows Mobile you know that good ol' start button that you can find on any desktop computer in America. Windows Mobile 7 rids itself of that button and uses tiles that make for quick access to the phone book which combines your contacts, Facebook and Twitter status all from the actual phonebook entry. Windows Mobile 7 focuses mostly on social networking and provides photo galleries and status updates with the tap of a finger.

The Windows Mobile Phone will follow the same hardware specifications regardless of brand or cell phone provider. Therefore, no phone will be faster or slower than the other, explained by Microsoft executives as they demoed the phone and the operating system to investors in Barcelona. All phones will have a high-resolution touch screen, three front facing buttons as shown in photo. The buttons include a back button, a start button and a Bing key for searches.

Cell phone providers from the United States have signed on to offer Windows Mobile 7 and its actual mobiles to customers in time for the 2010 holiday season. Cell phone manufacturer LG Electronics has been the first to state that they will be one of the first manufacturers to release the first Windows Mobile 7 phone released in the United States.

(Freddy Gonzalez may be reached at rock0_2004@dusty.tamiu.edu)