Bringing Back Lost Glory

Worth a wait or past that wait? Windows Phone 7.5 has hit the Indian market after more than a year's global launch. The company has integrated the mobile version of its latest web browser internet explorer, IE9, into the new Windows Phone OS to offer users the similar browser they have on PC.

According to Bhaskar Pramanik, chairman, Microsoft India, “Analysts expect this operating system to be the number 2 operating system by 2015.”

But will this phone bring back Microsoft's lost glory...is what this phone will determine.

If we look at the first 11 months of Windows OS' existence in the international market, it lacked many of the common features that consumers received on Android and iOS. But then again, even those platforms have taken their turn getting the major wrinkles ironed out. So it comes as no surprise that Microsoft's new initiative-Windows Phone 7.5, the innovative rebirth of a weak and faltering Windows Mobile platform that was quickly falling into obscurity, would need to go through a similar process.

“We are confident that with the latest Windows Phone, we will capture significant mindshare and marketshare in the mobile industry,” says Vineet Durani, director, Windows Phone Business Group.

Features offered by Windows 7.5 OS do make an impact on everyday smartphone experience, however they will do so in a long run. Microsoft has finally incorporated new UI called 'Metro' that has hubs like people, pictures, games, and marketplace and brings together related content into a single view to simplify common tasks. In short, Mango is precisely what Windows Phone should have been launched with from the beginning.

What is groundbreaking is this phone introduces Indian consumers to 'Threads'. It's an absolute must-have feature in this day and age, and it works seamlessly in the update.

When asked about messenger services like those in BlackBerry or iPhone, that are missing in this phone, Pramanik said that they have gone a step ahead and that's why tried to integrate all the available platforms over one called 'Threads' where all the social media platforms and email platforms are integrated into one.

Microsoft is leaving no stone unturned this time. One of the greatest weaknesses of the platform previously, email and messaging, are now a strength. With Mango, Microsoft helps in a linked email inbox, which lets users combine multiple email accounts into one consolidated tile.

Qualcomm and Microsoft have a long history of working together, they continue this partnership with Windows Phone as well. Qualcomm's 'Snapdragon S2 processor' is driving this phone's processor. To build on innovation, Qualcomm's processor introduces features like augmented reality embedded on the phone.
The difference between NoDo (previous OS) and Mango is seen evidently and Microsoft has launched it with a bang for Indian market.

What will be interesting to see in coming times is whether Microsoft will be able to partner with low-cost handset manufacturers since the Indian market is dominated by them or coming out with low-cost Mango handsets for the Indian market.

Pramanik says, “We are open to everyone, but on the other hand we are very particular in relation to hardware specifications. And, we cannot compromise with these specifications to partner with manufacturers.”

Nokia, which is fast losing market share is said to be banking on Windows Phone OS for its revival, but the company is yet to arrive with a Windows Phone device. Nokia will commercially launch its Windows Phone in India before March 2012 as a part of its global launch of handsets based on the new Windows operating system.