Evan Selleck

Today marked a historical moment, if not a significant benchmark, for Microsoft. They've gone ahead and announced their next mobile Operating System, calling it Windows Phone 7. While they still plan to support their previous efforts, such as Windows Mobile 6.5 (and 6.5.3), this new series of phones is brand new. A new model, a new User Interface, and a different look on how the mobile phone should operate in the user's hand. Microsoft has taken a quick, and distinct departure from their previous outlooks on what the phone should be, and this new outlook is something that anyone, especially the combination of media enthusiast and business person, can grasp onto fully.

If you have ever held a Zune HD in your hand, even for just a moment to move nimbly around the contents therein, then you know exactly what Microsoft was trying to do with their Windows Phone line-up. The 7 Series is set to promote the combination of a Zune Media Player, with the technologies of a phone. This integration is paramount to what they desire for their next wave of mobile phones: combining an intuitive, easy to navigate User Interface, but one that has plenty of content, and is fun to use. As we just mentioned, it's a big step in the right direction for the company that's known for burying key settings or features into the UI. They're keeping it all at face value now, letting the user move around as comfortably as they'd like.

This same comfort zone can be found in the entire UI. It's dynamic. It's always functioning to better your experience, so that you always stay up to date on what's going on in your world, plus the world of people you know. Right from the start, after swiping up the lock-screen, you're presented with a home screen filled with perfectly sized blocks, which Microsoft have lovingly called hubs. These hubs are live, showcasing information in a dynamic transition. For example, your pictures gallery will change in real-time, showcasing new images as you watch.

Microsoft has created six hubs: People, Pictures, Games, Music + Video, Marketplace, and Office. All of these hubs will take you to a far richer, more complete experience upon selecting any one of them. If you select the Music + Video hub, you are sent into the depths of what looks to be a perfect replication of the Zune Software. The Game's hub pulls in your Xbox LIVE services, such as your Avatar and Gamerscore, as well as your most recently played games, If that wasn't enough, you will also be able to play games. The People's hub is a link to all your contacts, and their linked social networks. While Facebook and Windows Live were the only two shown in the demo, Microsoft continuously suggested that other services would be included as well.

We cannot stress enough the consistency between each of the screens. From the moment you turn the device on, you'll notice that Microsoft has gone out of their way to integrate a phone with the Zune HD. Navigating from one hub to another is seamless, flashy, and fun to use. Throughout each part of the UI, there's large text at the top of the screen to let you know where you are. Without having to worry about hardware buttons, or even going through endless lists, there's just a simple swipe of the finger, or simple tap on the screen, to navigate you to wherever you want to go.

Microsoft really is pulling out all the stops with providing content. They're obviously including Outlook, but they've included the new finish to it. In a strange way, it seems to have given the email client a new life: propelled it forward into the new age, from where it had been left in the dust ages ago. Also included in the revamp, is Office, where OneNote is playing a big part within the Windows Phone line up.

From the demo, we're not surprised that searching is powered by Bing, Microsoft's "decision engine." While there is no universal search on the device, hitting the search key will bring up a localized search for whatever application you are running at the time. So if you're in messages and looking for one in particular, or an email, this is the way to do it quickly and easily.

While Microsoft wanted to note that the majority of features shown off at MWC regarding Windows Phone are meant for the cloud, having a PC isn't a bad thing. Connecting your Windows Phone 7 series device into your computer will bring up the Zune Software, which will seamlessly pull in your WP7 device. From there, you can add things from your Zune Marketplace, music and videos galore, as well as pin things to your homescreen. Such as contacts. Or Pandora, which Microsoft announced today. Syncing is easy: either wired or wireless. Utilizing the same wireless syncing technology in the Zune HD, means you can simply have your phone next to your computer, with Zune Marketplace open, and go from there.

Microsoft is taking a strong-handed approach to their latest Operating System. They want their experience to work next-to flawless, and they know that they needed not only an optimized OS for that, but also the hardware. By partnering with several companies, they are making sure that end is met. Among the partners is Qualcomm, HP, Toshiba, Dell, HTC, and Sony Ericsson. All of which have committed to bringing the next wave of Windows Phone devices to market.

However, these companies will not be able to change the software's features, such as the onscreen QWERTY keyboard. Microsoft is allowing them to tag on a physical landscape keyboard though. Portrait keyboards aren't possible at the moment due to Microsoft's screen aspect ratio specifications, but that could change in the future.

Carrier wise, AT&T is the premiere here in the States, and Orange will be providing the handsets at the start over the pond. While other carriers were included, such as Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon, AT&T is obviously getting some extra love.

There's still a lot of questions that people have, and all of them will be answered in the coming months, as we get closer to the holiday season. We're more than excited here at Windows Phone Forums, as we believe that Microsoft has done more than simply raise the bar. They've brought together two great software models, with Windows Mobile and Zune, and have managed to create an experience that everyone will enjoy using. They aren't copying the competition. They've managed to innovate, in an industry that has aspired to do nothing more than dominate through reflection.