Windows Phone 7: New Kid, One World

Gone are the days where Work and Play are separated.  As we continue to bring the world together through technology so is the mobile phone quickly mirroring that effect on Smartphone users.  Windows Phone 7 is not just Microsoft’s remake of their mobile platform it is a concerted effort to free you from the constraints of your surroundings and elevate you to this magical place Microsoft calls the “Cloud.”  O Cloud, O Cloud!  Man that was cheesy when I first heard it but still good for a chuckle today.  Never ever accuse Microsoft at taking themselves too seriously.

After DavidK, our resident Windows Phone guy, directed me to this article by Paul Thurrott on his winsupersite.com site I started to think about what Microsoft aims to accomplish with WP7, what they are offering at launch and what users can expect in the near future.

Lets start with the vision:  Microsoft wants to collect you to the “cloud.”  For Microsoft the cloud isn’t an impersonal static thing that you connect to when you have to.  The “cloud” that they want you to be connected to is first and foremost your personal cloud that carries the things important to you (work and personal contacts, files, music, pictures and video) wherever you are.  To put it succinctly Windows Phone 7 is Microsoft’s offering to take your world and share it with others and others worlds with you.

This leads us to the all too important question how does Windows Phone 7 accomplish this?  Three words: Windows Live ID.  That’s it!  Simply turn on the phone and type in your Windows Live ID and as Paul Thurrott puts it “watch as your phone populates with an astonishing amount of content.”  You’ll almost instantly have all your pictures, contacts and mail available to use.  No need to go to your Facebook app, no synching with the PC the phone will have you and your world ready for life on the go.  Suddenly the first Windows Phone 7 commercial makes perfect sense.

• Work email? Exchange is supported
• Work Documents? Synching over exchange and SharePoint.  Collaborate with coworkers in real time.
• Pictures? Both local and on the web pictures are automatically synched to the phone.
• Contacts? Covered
• Multiple Calendars? Covered
• Music & Video? Ready to go
• Apps & Games? Can you say Xbox Live Arcade
• Hardware? Apparently Microsoft can’t wait to show it to you.

Basically Windows Phone 7 seeks to allow you to enjoy your world, at your speed, at your convenience.  Yes it is missing copy & paste at launch but that doesn’t detract from their vision as it is coming.  Multitasking is only supported at launch by native apps.

What is on the near horizon?  Windows Phone 7 is Microsoft’s Union Station.  The singular place where Microsoft has decided to align all their powerful on and off-line services.  Windows Live, Xbox Live, Zune, Live Messenger, SharePoint,etc.  Not all things will be available at launch but be assured the folks over at the Redmond, WA campus are burning the midnight oil and holding “We Are The World” bonfires in an attempt to bring their vision to pass.  The heat is on and Microsoft has focused its sights on giving you a new experience that if successful unites the world with you.  Windows Phone 7-The World at the touch of your hand.  If you want to get started with learning more about the world we live in and don’t want to wait for Windows Phone 7 check out Bing either on the web or on the phone and just enjoy the trivia and beauty of the background images.  Its recently become a daily routine and fascination to discover different parts of the world through Bing.  Who knew I could experience the world’s cultural beauty daily.  Always nice to know there’s a lot I don’t know and be inspired to experience.