2nd UPDATE: Microsoft Previews New Windows 7 Phone Platform
2011年5月25日 - 1:45AM
Dow Jones News
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) showed off an upgraded version of its
Windows Phone software Tuesday as the technology titan attempts to
claw its way back into the smartphone business.
The Redmond, Wash., company unveiled the latest version of its
mobile operating system, also known as "Mango," which features
several upgrades to its user interface, with a focus on improving
the communications and Internet experience as well as spur more
applications. A free update is scheduled to come to existing users
in the fall.
"It's certainly a very big release, and one worth waiting for,"
said Andy Lees, head of the company's Windows Phone division.
The upgrade marks the latest in a series of attempts by
Microsoft to revitalize the smartphone platform, underscoring the
importance of maintaining a presence in the area. Long dominant in
the PC business, Microsoft fears losing its position among
technology players as more products and services go mobile.
Once a dominant player in the smartphone business, Microsoft
continued to fall in the first quarter, with its operating system
capturing 3.6% of the market, or a little more than half of its
share from a year ago, according to Gartner. Android was the top
smartphone platform with more than a third of the market.
It shares similar concerns as Nokia Corp. (NOK), which was slow
to upgrade its own software and fell behind with high-end devices.
Their common vision of the industry prompted a partnership between
the two companies, marking the first time Nokia agreed to use an
outsider's software to run its own phones. Lees said Nokia's first
Windows Phones will run Mango.
The Windows Phone software, while critically praised for its
unique feel, has been largely ignored as consumers continue to snap
up iPhones from Apple Inc. (AAPL) and smartphones running on Google
Inc.'s (GOOG) Android software. The devices have also been
criticized for their lack of applications.
Mango, which Lees touts includes 500 upgrades to the operating
system, is Microsoft's latest attempt to address the issue. The
update takes a "people-centric" approach, according to Lees. He
also talked up the phone's ability to integrate the applications
deeper into the phone.
"Third-party applications have been freed from their silos,"
Lees said. "They're part of the total experience."
Lees touted the roughly 18,000 applications now available on its
Windows Phone Marketplace, modeled after similar stores offered by
Apple and Google.
The update includes the ability to switch between different
applications.
Microsoft also focused on improving the phone's communications
abilities. Mango includes integration with Twitter, LinkedIn, and
chat services from Facebook and Windows Live Messenger from the
start. The phone also allows users to create groups of friends and
families.
The update features Internet Explorer 9, which executives tout
is faster than the competing smartphone browsers. Executives also
touted a redesigned Xbox gaming hub for the phone, as well as
talked about access to a cloud storage service called Skydrive.
Microsoft is making some progress with carrier partners.
AT&T Inc. (T) and T-Mobile USA were early supporters of the
company's phones, followed by Sprint Nextel Corp. (S). On Thursday,
Verizon Wireless plans to sell its first Windows Phone device, the
Trophy from HTC Corp. (HTCXF, 2498.TW).
Microsoft also said Asian vendors Acer Inc. (ACEIY, ASIYF,
2353.TW), Fujitsu Ltd. (FJTSY, 6702.TO), and ZTE Corp. (ZTCOY,
0763.HK) would make Windows Phone devices.
Shares were recently off 3 cents to $24.15 early Tuesday. The
stock is off 13% year-to-date.
-By Roger Cheng, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2153;
roger.cheng@dowjones.com
-Drew FitzGerald contributed to this report.