Microsoft to Create Zune Phone?

The Mobile World Congress is currently taking place in Barcelona, Spain and there’s a plethora of interesting news hitting the net. One of the more interesting pieces of information to come out of the event is that Microsoft is contemplating making a phone based on the Zune HD. Owners of a Zune HD, myself included, have wondered when Microsoft was going to take the plunge. One look at the audio player’s design complete with vibrant touchscreen display, apps, and wi-fi capability it just seemed like the logical next step.

It won’t be an actual Zune phone however. According to the Associated Press, Microsoft will continue its strategy of creating the phone software, allowing other companies to build their own phones. The software is none other than the long awaited Windows Mobile 7 which is being marketed as Windows Phone 7 Series. (I wonder if this is an attempt to distance the new software from the poorly received Windows Mobile 6.5?) According to the press release, the new phone will be able to house Xbox LIVE games, video, and audio content on one mobile device.

“Today, I’m proud to introduce Windows Phone 7 Series, the next generation of Windows Phones,” said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer at Microsoft. “In a crowded market filled with phones that look the same and do the same things, I challenged the team to deliver a different kind of mobile experience. Windows Phone 7 Series marks a turning point toward phones that truly reflect the speed of people’s lives and their need to connect to other people and all kinds of seamless experiences.”

The new software will feature “live tiles” that will update in real-time. The example Microsoft is using is someone creating a tile for a friend and receiving up-to-the-minute updates as the friend changes their status, uploads photos, and other activities. In addition, there will be six dedicated hubs to give users the most immersive experience possible. The hubs are similar to the tabs currently featured on the  Zune HD.  There’s one dedicated to social networking titled People. The others include Music + Video, Pictures, Games, Office, and Marketplace.

So far, a number of mobile phone providers have signed on to carry the phones including AT&T, Orange, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon to name a few. The first models of the new phones are set to roll out around the 2010 holiday, just in time for the annual smartphone holiday brawl.

About the Author
Sherri is a freelance writer that has a love of all things fun and geeky including gadgets, gaming, anime, and comics. When she isn't writing or out on the town living it up, she loves doing 10-12 hour marathon sessions on her Xbox 360 or one of her older consoles. It's not an addiction, it's a way of life!
See all posts by Sherri L. Smith.