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Screen starters.

Windows Mobile, which has always laid emphasis on offering `workable solutions' at enterprise level, is now tuning in to the demands of the feature-hungry smart phone user of today.

The software maker, realising the importance of a `finger-friendly' user interface, has announced the availability of a new range of handsets from its device partners, including Acer, Samsung, LG and HTC, featuring Windows Mobile 6.5 - the latest version of its mobile phone software.

Windows Phones promise an "improved, easy-to-use and customisable 'honeycomb' user interface (UI) and an enhanced browsing experience with the new Internet Explorer, besides cosmetic changes over the earlier Windows Mobile 6.1.

eWorld catches up with Sumeet Gugnani, Director-Mobile Communications Business, Consumer and Online Business, Microsoft India, for a demonstration of the platform, to understand the services.

The Windows Phones currently available include Acer Be Touch E100, Acer Be Touch E101, Acer Neo Touch S200, Acer Be Touch E200 and HTC Touch 2, and will feature Windows Mobile 6.5.

Sumeet Gugnani

Says Gugnani, "some existing phones running Windows Mobile 6.1, namely - HTC Diamond 2, HTC Touch Pro 2, LG Eigen and Samsung Omnia Pro, can be upgraded to Windows Mobile 6.5. By the end of the year, this will extend to cover over 20 phones featuring Windows Mobile 6.5, including a host of new phones that will be launched by device partners during the next three months."

Starting at Rs 11,000, the Windows Phones will be available across a range of styles and prices - be it a touch phone with a large screen or a device with a keyboard for fast typing, or something sleek that will slip into the jeans pocket. Gugnani says: "Microsoft has made minor alterations in the UI and allows the hardware partners to alternate and use the features that enhance the form factor." On negative reviews of the UI of the Windows Mobile 6.1 Gugnani recalls that "Microsoft were pioneers in introducing the now common `conversation-style' threads for SMS."

New services

Reiterating that Windows Phones aim to "blend the best of the Phone, PC and the Web," and the software maker has realised the need to offer "a combination of the best of software, hardware and services," Gugnani says Microsoft is also debuting two new services, to add value to the UI - My Phone, an in-built, free service that offers 200MB of online storage to back up all contacts and phone information, and Windows Marketplace for Mobile, through which Microsoft enters the now highly competitive applications market.

How does Microsoft plan to challenge the iPhone, Symbian, Android and Palm UIs?

He promptly responds, "Microsoft is the pioneer in the software market and in introducing touchscreen in mobile phones with Hewlett Packard's iPac, iMate, etc.

It was only when Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone with its multi-touch interface did the technology and the need for a finger-friendly interface gain momentum."

However, Microsoft fails to beat Apple or Google in the UI race predominantly because its interfaces have been designed only for resistive touch screens instead of capacitive ones available on the devices of its competitors.

Does Microsoft foresee its partners making capacitive touch screen phones, and will it alter its interface to suit them? To this, Gugnani says Windows Mobile 7 is on its way and might pack a lot of surprises.

When asked if Microsoft would have any restrictions in terms of making the hardware, and if it believes the hardware would impact the user feedback on the software, Gugnani nods, but does not reveal what exactly it may be.

Applications

On Microsoft plans on the applications front, Gugnani says, "Users will have access to not only important lines of business applications for work, but also to popular applications for play, such as Facebook, MySpace, Netflix, Twikini, WunderRadio and ZAGAT, as well as leading game titles, including Guitar Hero World Tour, Sudoku, and the PAC-MAN series.

Some of these can be downloaded for free and some others can be easily purchased and installed directly on a Windows phone."

The Marketplace, which presently houses more than 700 applications, "passes through a stringent certification procedure and should contain no adult content."

Microsoft currently does not have any plans for offering location-based social networking services, like its Symbian rival, but he says "Bing Maps will be integrated into the phones, like Google Maps on Android phones."

Finally, for those who believe the phone to be an extension of their personal style, Gugnani displays the Windows phone Custom Theme Creator "which allows consumers to create personalised themes for their Windows phone by choosing the colour and design that suit their style."

It can be accessed at http://www.windowsphone.com/theme..

Which among the new range of Windows phones does he see as a potential winner?

He replies: All our device partners are equally competent. All seven daughters are equally beautiful to a father, no matter how they are."

However, he shares exceptionally positive vibes with the latest entrant in the market - Acer, its oldest partner HTC and Samsung.

janani@thehindu.co.in

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