So, Windows Mobile was DEAD. Just plain old dead. It was killed off by Apple's iOS, and Android. These significantly more modern operating systems were just killing off smartphone operating systems left and right.
Symbian? See ya.
Palm OS. Puh-leese. (Which is not to say that the WebOS isn't solid...)
Blackberry. Uh...well, it hasn't died yet, but it is creaking under its own emphasis on e-mail. All the cool kids have moved on from that.
And yesterday, Steve Balmer unleashed Windows 7 phones.
And truly, if you are a Windows user, and groove on the Windows Live phenomenon, these phones are pretty terrific. Free storage via SkyDrive, free OTA syncing...very good social integration, reasonable browser (not as good at iPhone or Android, but OK, frankly).
So, does the world need another phone OS?
Well, goodness gracious, it does!
I am an iPhone user. I love it.
Android phones have amazing functionality and potential, but are a little hampered by carrier oversight, but as a group they are a very exiting development.
And these new Windows phones add a great wrinkle to the eco-system because they graciously integrate with the users other computing life (Windows) and add a modern sense of social integration and easy top level nav.
Will Windows 7 phones win? I seriously doubt it. But they will keep Apple moving ahead, and force all of the OEMs to upgrade to the latest versions of Android. Think of Windows 7 phones as a pest. They have potential. They have some samrts, but they are late to the party and hampered by an overly done OS. But they have marketing muscle, marketing money, and a vision. That will push the others ahead, just to insure that they stay a pest and not a player.
