The Inquirer recently got a walkthrough of Microsoft’s forthcoming Windows Phone operating system (also known as Windows Mobile 6.5). The video reveals little new information except for one interesting item I did not know: Windows Mobile 6.5 and Windows Mobile 7 will coexist (once the latter is out). The former will target lower-end phones while the latter will be featured on premium hardware devices. Windows Mobile 6.5 will then make way for Windows Mobile 7 with Windows Mobile 8 headed to whatever the premium platforms will be when it comes out.
The video shows the new OS in action with its new interface inspired by the Zune, the My Phone synchronization feature, the Windows Marketplace, and Microsoft Tag. Is it just me or does it look like Internet Explorer does not appear to have gotten any faster?
According to The Inquirer, the Windows Phone OS will be available before Christmas. Hopefully that means that devices running it will be available then.
Microsoft appears to have taken a nice step forward with Windows Phone but it still seems to be coming up short against what competing operating systems such as the iPhone OS, the BlackBerry OS, and Google Android offer. I’ll know whether I will need to eat my words when I have a chance to actually play with Windows Phone myself.