Windows Phone 7 Series was everything mobile mad gossip hounds had hoped. A complete facelift putting Microsoft right at the heart of the battle for your phone-based affections.
But there’s just the small matter of a few other killer phone OSs out there that it needs to see off in order to become number one. And we’re not just talking the iPhone and Android. Dive in now and we’ll tell you exactly who Windows Phone 7 Series needs to beat down.
iPhone OS
You can bet that Steve Ballmer is gagging for Windows Phone 7 Series to wipe the floor with the iPhone. In order to do so, it’ll need to have phones ready to roll around the time the iPhone 4G hits shelves. A tall order, but necessary in order to show off just why those Xbox LIVE skills and Live Tiles are better than Apple’s efforts. Because make no mistake, these features are true iPhone-bothering add-ons.
EP beatability rating: 7/10
Google Android
You could argue Android poses more of a problem to Windows Phone 7 Series than the iPhone. Its ubiquity in the very best smartphones is astonishing, so Microsoft will need to convince everyone from HTC to Sony Ericsson that choosing its OS is the way to go. Tough when you can skin Google Android but Windows Phone 7 Series is being controlled rigidly by Microsoft. HTC says it’s keen to get involved though, so expect Google and Microsoft to be wooing manufacturers for many months to come.
EP beatability rating: 6/10
MeeGo
The combined skills of Intel and Nokia brought us MeeGo at MWC. But it was almost immediately gazumped by Windows Phone 7 Series. The successor to Maemo, its potential to rule touchscreen smartphones is massive, especially as Nokia continues to sell millions of mobiles. The problem? There’s only one screenshot of it working, meaning its a long way off. And as its for smart-books and other portable gizmos, Microsoft will be confident Windows Phone 7 Series can see off MeeGo’s challenge.
EP beatability rating: 8/10
Symbian
The ageing S60 software should pose no threat to Windows Phone 7 Series. But in spite of Nokia and Intel’s plans for MeeGo, Espoo says it’s still working on the new, touch-friendly version of its smartphone OS. But with so many OSs now making a mockery of the current incarnation, Microsoft just needs to make sure it can get as many Symbian-favouring mobile makers on board to ensure it keeps Symbian out of the picture.
EP beatability rating: 9/10
Samsung bada
MWC saw the app centric Samsung bada debut on the Samsung Wave. But first impressions suggested it wasn’t quite up to the integrated skills of Windows Phone 7 Series. And with Microsoft already in bed with Samsung, it should have no troubles seeing off the challenge. Bada is, after all, aimed at lower powered dumbphones too, something Windows Phone 7 Series won’t be going near.
EP beatability rating: 8/10
Palm webOS
Palm has really dropped the ball after wowing the crowds with the original Palm Pre at CES 2009. And while webOS is still ace, you can bet it’ll take Palm an age to get something new into our mitts. As long as Windows Phone 7 Series can land on a number of handsets before the year’s out, it should see off webOS no trouble.
EP beatability rating: 9/10
