Mobiles.co.uk Review on Windows Phone 7 Debut

LONDON, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft is rumoured to be allocating $400 million (253 million pounds) to spend on publicising its freshly launched Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system (OS), and in the first days of its arrival it has already been made available on a number of different Smartphones from major manufacturers. Whilst the software giant left the IT community largely impressed with Windows 7 for desktop PCs it has failed to win plaudits for its previous batch of Windows mobile phones. Now this is all set to change as Windows Phone 7 makes its debut and wins new customers into the contract phone market.

The HTC HD7 is the largest and most imposing of the first Windows 7 mobiles to hit the market, and HTC Mobile has made a name for itself with monster handsets. This is because its 4.3 inch touchscreen display is a third of an inch larger than its nearest rival, the Samsung Omnia 7. The manufacturer has taken the sensible step of including a kick stand on the rear of the HTC HD7 which will allow users to stand the phone on its side and watch movies on a flat surface, which is really what its large screen deserves.

It is important to note that Microsoft has imposed minimum specification requirements across Windows 7 phones and as such HTC Mobile options are going to house ultimately the same hardware as the handsets from rival manufacturers. This is why the HTC HD7 has the same 1GHz processor clock speed as that of the Omnia 7 or the LG Optimus 7. To differentiate themselves these phones have varying camera technologies and display types, although again a minimum of five megapixels for the camera and 3.7 inches for the display is something to which the manufacturers have had to adhere to ensure unity across Windows mobile phones.

The Windows 7 phone which is leading the pack in terms of photographic capabilities is the HTC Mozart. This has an eight megapixel camera with Xenon flash and it easily eclipses the five megapixel units installed on the HTC HD7 or the Samsung Omnia 7. Like these phones it can capture video in 720p HD and initial tests show that there needs to be a little improvement in this area across the board as it does not quite stack up to the HD video capture on the iPhone 4 or rival Android phones.

The Samsung Omnia 7 demonstrates its unique qualities in a fairly eye-popping manner. This is thanks to its four inch Super AMOLED display. This is the same as the unit seen on the Galaxy S, but many have commented that the simple, bold interface style of Windows 7 suits the technology even better, with deep blacks and vibrant colours paying testament to the contrast capabilities. Although the HD7 has a larger screen, this is arguably a better viewing experience. The design of the Omnia 7 is another treat as Samsung has stuck to high quality metallic components for the backplate whilst offering tapered sides to make it easier to grasp than other Windows 7 contract phone options.

Samsung's domestic rival LG has also entered the Windows 7 mobile fray with the Optimus 7. As previously mentioned it has a 1GHz processor and a five megapixel camera to stay in line with Microsoft's minimum requirements for hardware like HTC Mobile, but it might also be one of the more affordable arrivals for those who want to get onboard with this new OS at the beginning without shelling out for an expensive contract phone.

Whether you choose an HTC Mobile, a Samsung or an LG contract phone you will probably be impressed with what these first in a new breed of Windows mobile phones have to offer. Although some have expressed reservations about the hardware, most have been impressed with the intuitive tiled interface and potential for media and gaming provided by Zune and Xbox Live services respectively.

SOURCE mobiles.co.uk