On Monday, Microsoft launched its new smartphone operating system, Windows Phone 7, to positive reactions.
While many reviewers praised the phone’s user interface and Microsoft’s reboot of its smartphone efforts, others speculated it might be too late to catch up with Apple and Google.
MG Siegler of Tech Crunch expressed general surprise and favour towards Windows Phone 7:
Like any good Apple fanboy, when I first heard that Microsoft would be rebooting their mobile strategy a couple years ago, I snickered. I’m sure I made some sarcastic remark along the lines of “this oughta be good.” But over the past few months, I’ve actually been pleasantly and continuously surprised by what I’ve seen of Windows Phone 7 (the artist formerly known as Windows Phone 7 Series Phone, or something) — enough to think that it actually might be good.
While Devindra Hardawar of VentureBeat concludes his review with:
Overall, there wasn’t much that surprised us at the launch event, but it’s nice to finally see Microsoft moving forward after first announcing Windows Phone 7 in February. The platform certainly looks polished, but it remains to be seen if consumers will opt for it instead of the more mature iPhone and Android devices.
A general concern among reviewers of PC World, Search Engine Land and CNet was whether Windows phones could compete with other smartphones.
As Greg Sterling of Search Engine Land put it:
One interesting question to consider is which devices Windows phones will most directly compete with? Will they, with their partial enterprise emphasis, steal BlackBerry share or will they compete most directly with the iPhone and Android?
More competition in the market is better and so I’m pleased to see Microsoft launch what appears to be a solid user experience. Now we just have to wait for consumers to render their verdict in November.
