Microsoft has detailed a slew of new features for its Windows Phone 7 (WP7) platform at the 2011 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain. The updates to be released over the course of 2011 include major enhancements to functionality and performance as well as a new desktop application for Mac users.
Amongst the list of expanded capabilities are the ability to run multiple applications simultaneously, direct integration of Twitter, an enhanced marketplace, the ability to sync Office documents into the Microsoft cloud network and a mobile version of Internet Explorer 9 said to feature the same level of hardware acceleration as the desktop application.
In addition, Mac users now have an official way to update and synchronise their WP7 phones with the Feb. 15 release of Windows Phone 7 Connector on the Mac App Store. The announcements come 12 months after Microsoft heralded WP7 at the 2010 MWC.
“A year ago, we introduced Windows Phone 7 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. We described how we are putting the entire muscle of our company behind our mobile strategy including Windows, Windows Live, Bing, Zune, Xbox LIVE, Office, SharePoint, Exchange and our developer tools,” Andy Lees, President of Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Business, said in a Microsoft press release.
Providing a “delightful customer experience” is at the centre of Microsoft’s WP7 strategy and the feature expansion as well their partnership with mobile giant Nokia declared on Feb. 11 are key to delivering on this and scaling up their market presence says Lees.
The first of the WP7 updates will be available on March 8 and will include the anticipated copy and paste functionality. Presently, no firm dates have been given for the other major features.
Amongst the list of expanded capabilities are the ability to run multiple applications simultaneously, direct integration of Twitter, an enhanced marketplace, the ability to sync Office documents into the Microsoft cloud network and a mobile version of Internet Explorer 9 said to feature the same level of hardware acceleration as the desktop application.
In addition, Mac users now have an official way to update and synchronise their WP7 phones with the Feb. 15 release of Windows Phone 7 Connector on the Mac App Store. The announcements come 12 months after Microsoft heralded WP7 at the 2010 MWC.
“A year ago, we introduced Windows Phone 7 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. We described how we are putting the entire muscle of our company behind our mobile strategy including Windows, Windows Live, Bing, Zune, Xbox LIVE, Office, SharePoint, Exchange and our developer tools,” Andy Lees, President of Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Business, said in a Microsoft press release.
Providing a “delightful customer experience” is at the centre of Microsoft’s WP7 strategy and the feature expansion as well their partnership with mobile giant Nokia declared on Feb. 11 are key to delivering on this and scaling up their market presence says Lees.
The first of the WP7 updates will be available on March 8 and will include the anticipated copy and paste functionality. Presently, no firm dates have been given for the other major features.
