In Microsoft made it clear that the Windows Phone 7 will be supplied not only with new phones: can not exclude the possibility of installation of the OS on the already sold phones.

Head of Microsoft mobile Riza, Alex (Alex Reese) to Twitter asked: "Will the phone users by 6.5 upgrade to WP7, subject to the requisite characteristics?" He said: "This should not think our partners in the production." Evasive, but hardly negative.

In general, this decision is correct, because the market already have devices that meet the necessary requirements for the installation of WP 7. In particular, this HTC HD2.

Via TechRadar

Site Electronista citing Chinese sources said that LG plans to release a device based on Windows Phone 7 in the period from September to November this year.

More information about this model yet, but very likely they will appear in late March, at the exhibition CTIA.

Via Electronista

Charlie Kindel (Charlie Kindel), coordinator of the group developing Windows Phone, reported on how the principles will be the development of the new OS. In particular, he wrote that to "fix the energy, ability and attention of developers and manufacturers to the platform and ecosystem for the cross-cutting principle.

Among other principles, the development of the following theses:

"Every decision we have taken should take into account what impact it will have on end users.

We will do a little, but very high quality. It is better not to do some sort of functionality than to implement it badly. There are always new versions.

The creation or documentation of the API without a clear understanding of how it will be used. API, created by the principle of "do, and then we shall see," almost always futile, and unnecessarily burden the system.

We will build on the shoulders of giants. Wherever possible, it is better to integrate than to build.

We will try not to show our organizational boundaries developers.

Some results of these approaches can be seen now, such as the integration of Windows Phone 7 with Xbox, Zune and Microsoft LIVE. The principle of "do not create the functionality of poor quality" has already manifested itself in the fact that there WP7 some functions that are in WM6, such as multitasking and advanced file system.

Via WMPoweruser

Phones on Windows Phone 7 will be released only in three form factors. This Microsoft officials told a podcast Frankly Speaking, who are members of Australian corporations.

Phones in the first form factor will be a monoblock with a large touch screen in the entire front panel of a-la iPhone. For these models will be installed mandatory technical specifications: screen resolution no less than 800 × 480, CPU clock speed is not lower than 1 GHz, the mandatory presence of 3G, GPS and Wi-Fi. These phones will go to the market first – before the end of 2010.

Models in the second form factor will be closer to the conventional telephone on Windows Mobile, they will be equipped with touch screen and sliding keyboard. The third form factor – the mysterious concept, as long as Microsoft is not talking about it. Most likely, it will be the device with the fixed QWERTY-keyboard, something like BlackBerry.

This is very unusual change of course, because Microsoft has always been proud of the diversity of form factors based on Windows Mobile smartphones and flexibility of its policy in this regard. Perhaps this is due to the fact that Microsoft intend to achieve a better integration of hardware and software than it was before, and independently to write all the drivers. On the one hand, it will accelerate the development of software and driver updates, but on the other hand, it slightly reduces the diversity of hardware stuffing. Once again we see how Microsoft is trying to learn from Apple.

Via Electronista

Microsoft vice president for mobile communications, Liz, Andy (Andy Lees) at a conference for investors revealed some interesting details about Windows Phone 7. For example, he said that work on the new operating system began in the year and a half ago – it is then Microsoft decided to make "hard reset" of its entire mobile business.

According to him, initially in Microsoft inclined to ensure that produce their own phones, but later abandoned this idea. Instead, it was decided to set a minimum technical requirements for third-party manufacturers.

But perhaps the most interesting comment was the following:

"We are very pleased with the new multi-display works, because now we have a commonality between different platforms: PC, Xbox, network and telephone. We provide new tools that simplify and accelerate the development of applications for the phone, and they will work on several screens. More we will let the conference MIX … In the online store can be bought and applications, and games, and for the first time in this store will sell games for Xbox LIVE, allowing you to create a multiplayer game and the multiplex, which will work on several screens.

Under the multi-display Liz had in mind, most likely, the technology of so-called hubs, where the actual working space than the actual screen resolution and the need to rotate.

Via WMPoweruser

Qualcomm stated that it will become the first manufacturer of chipsets for devices running Windows Phone 7. These devices, according to the company, will sell up to Christmas (ie, almost a year).

In Qualcomm also told to start work on "new generation» Windows Phone with Microsoft, with the result of this work will be, not much is not enough, "redefinition capabilities of mobile devices."

"A man's life – is not a set of individual actions, and their phone is also not to be so, – said a senior Microsoft vice president Andy Lees (Andy Lees). – Software for Windows Phone family of 7 offers a fresh approach in which network, applications and content are closely integrated with each other, and some stations do come first: the Zune and Xbox Live. In Windows Phone 7, we are working closely with Qualcomm, and chipsets Qualcomm Snapdragon – is an integral part of Windows Phone ».

Via TechRadar

In Microsoft confirmed that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will make a keynote about Windows Phone at the International Congress of mobile communication, which will open on Monday next week. No details on this subject no longer reported, but the probability of reporting Windows Phone 7 is very high. Traditionally, the head of Microsoft personally represents only the most important innovations.

Windows Phone – a new version of the name Windows Mobile. In the new version of the system expected a number of significant innovations, particularly the interface Zune, support multitouch input, integration with social networks and Xbox Live and more. There is also information that the Windows Phone 7 may not be multi-tasking, and compatibility with previous versions of Windows Mobile, but people will get a free navigation.

The first phones on the Windows Phone 7 is expected in September. One of the first anticipated HTC Touch Diamond3.

Via Electronista

Resource MSMobiles confirmed that Windows Mobile 7 will be closely integrated with the Zune, Xbox, and Bing, as well as get a new kernel. However, this is no big news. In other news: Windows Mobile will follow the example Android and Nokia and will be supplied with free navigation application. Moreover, emerging markets will be supplied free of charge and the operating system itself – a clear concession to the growing power of open mobile platforms.

Via WMPoweruser

According to Electronista, Microsoft could significantly restrict the functionality of Windows Mobile 7. In particular, "suffer" multi-tasking, which will be replaced by a system of background notifications, used on the iPhone. When the user exits the application, they will be suspended.

The same source reports that the new version of WM will not be as open as before. Manufacturers of devices will not be able to modify your home screen and set their own interfaces, as it usually does HTC. Installing applications will be centralized – through a single "service delivery" type of App Store. Thus, Microsoft abandon years of practice, where users can self-install programs, obtained from any source. Disappear advanced file system, such "adult» Windows: in its place will come more than a simple centralized organization of memory, something reminiscent of the classic Palm OS.

Source confirms that WM7 borrow many elements of the Zune, but many will be taken and on Xbox Live, including support for social networking and platform XNA, allows developers to write applications simultaneously for WM7 and Xbox 360.

The platform will support Flash and Silverlight, but in the browser, they will not work (at least at first). Finally, WM7 will not be backward compatible with WM6, although Microsoft says it will port the individual applications.

Via Electronista

30 January site WMPoweruser led an interesting information – a Microsoft conference in Canada called Energize IT 2010, taken from Microsoft. Then this program is clearly figured some «Windows Phone 7":

A day earlier, we also reported that in February, Microsoft will release some kind of "next version" Windows Mobile: this phrase used Microsoft Chief Financial Officer Peter Klein (Peter Klein).

But yesterday, the same share said that the proposal was removed from the program. If you look at the program of the conference now, no mention of «Windows Phone 7" is not there at all.

What happened? One of the editors of the site slip ahead of time? The Microsoft changed its mind be WM7? Or such plans and was not, but someone on the site took wishful thinking? Alas, we can only guess.

Via WMPoweruser