Windows Phone 7 Software Now in Hands of Manufacturers

My weekly column returns after a hiatus of nearly two months. And just in time, because the world of Windows Phone 7 is heating up. Windows Phone 7 software is now in the hands of manufacturers, images of forthcoming devices are appearing online, and detailed reviews from those who’ve been using prototypes are being posted.

Windows Phone 7 Goes Gold

On September 1, a member of the Windows Phone team posted that the software was finished for now and has been made available to manufacturers. And according to the post, it’s the most thoroughly tested mobile platform that Microsoft has ever released.

So when will the phones start to appear? No word yet, but the speculation is October.

Forthcoming Phones

Microsoft has really put a lock on the release of details, so very little is known about the new phones that will be appearing. We have images but very few specs. CNet’s Ina Fried has collected some links to various sources that include photos, videos, and some details on models such as the LG c900, HTC Mozart, and Samsung i917.

In earlier columns I had wondered whether manufacturers would be jumping about, and now it seems clear that they are.

CNet’s Review of Windows Phone 7

CNet’s Ina Fried has also posted a great review of Windows Phone 7, written after she had been using prototype device for a month. She tells you clearly what she likes and doesn’t like about this new software.

She’s impressed with its elegance — something I don’t think anyone would ever have said about Windows Mobile. The iPhone and Android have set a high standard, and Windows Phone 7 appears to be at least meeting that standard. She says that Windows Phone 7 now feels like a usable consumer device rather than a tiny computer. That’s just what I wanted to hear.

So what doesn’t she like? She says that because it’s the first appearance of new software it’s missing things such as copy and paste. And she says battery life is an issue, but then clarifies that she was using a prototype and that Microsoft says that battery life will be better when the new devices appear.

Windows Phone 7 Games

Fried has also posted an article titled “Hands-on with Windows Phone 7’s games†that includes a photo gallery and a video of some of the games. She’s also posted a video that shows the role that Xbox Live avatars play on the phone.

And Jason Dunn of Windows Phone Thoughts has a blog post that collects demo videos of some games. He is especially impressed by a game called Harvest.

Will the Developers Show Up?

Everything is looking good — the Windows Phone 7 software, the forthcoming devices, the extraordinary integration with various online services. But the big question is whether the developers will embrace the platform.

Developer Justin James has a great article talking about the good and bad of Windows Phone 7 from the perspective of developers. And his bottom line is scary: he suggests a wait-and-see approach. That’s a Catch 22 — developers hesitate, waiting to see if the devices sell, and consumers hesitate, waiting to see if there’s enough software for these devices to compete with the 250,000 iPhone and 70,000 Android apps.