Everything you need to know about Windows Phone 7

Microsoft's new mobile OS, Windows Phone 7, is barely a week away from release, yet some of you may not have been paying much attention to all the preamble.

It's understandable – the big 'M' hardly has a sterling track record when it comes to mobile operating systems. Its approach has always been to place the Windows desktop experience in the palm of your hands, and who in their right mind wants that?

Windows Phone 7 is different. Microsoft is taking a new approach, one informed by the successes of its rivals but – and this is the important bit – stylistically very different indeed.

Read on for the full low-down on Windows Phone 7, and why we think it could be the most interesting iPhone challenger yet when it comes to pocket gaming.

Hardware and availability

Microsoft's approach to hardware seems to sit squarely in between Google's and Apple's. Its requirements are far more regimented than Android, yet more relaxed than iPhone's locked down approach.

Still, the Redwood giant appears to be taking a no-nonsense Henry Ford approach - handset manufacturers can have any spec they like, as long as it has at least a 1GHz processor (ARM v7 "Cortex/Scorpion" or better), 256MB RAM, 8GB flash memory, DirectX 9-capable GPU, five-megapixel camera (with flash and dedicated button), four-point capacitive touchscreen, accelerometer with compass, and three fixed hardware buttons on the face.

The first batch of handsets appear to adhere to this blueprint pretty closely (they even share the same Snapdragon processor), making them roughly equivalent to the current high-end of smartphone specs (iPhone 4, Galaxy S).

Microsoft has also permitted three different form factors for its WP7 devices. The first resembles the sort of of purely touch-driven slab any iPhone or Nexus One user would be familiar with. The second is similar, but includes a slide-out qwerty keyboard – think the Motorola Milestone/Droid or Nokia N97 – while the third features a BlackBerry-like portrait keyboard.

It's been revealed that there'll be six handsets from four manufacturers available in the UK before Christmas, with all but one available from October 21st. These and three more will be headed to the US in November.

Here's the confirmed UK line-up, along with the UK networks you’ll have to sign up to if you want to own them:

HTC 7 Mozart: single uniframe body, eight-megapixel camera with Xenon flash, 3.7-inch screen – exclusive to Orange

Samsung Omnia 7: four-inch Super AMOLED screen – available on Orange, T-Mobile, and Three HTC 7 Trophy: 3.8-inch screen, dolby sound – exclusive to Vodafone LG Optimus 7: 3.8-inch screen, ability to play to DLNA, scan search – exclusive to Vodafone HTC HD7: 4.3-inch AMOLED screen, with a horizontal kick-screen – O2 exclusive Dell Venue Pro: slide out portrait QWERTY keyboard, 4.1-inch screen – available November, network unknown Operating System

The Windows Phone 7 operating system itself is quite striking. Abandoning the shrunken desktop feeling of past WinMo versions, it instead adopts a highly stylised yet streamlined interface.

Rather than the icons that populate the likes of iOS and Android, WP7’s home screen is filled with large (and fully customisable) tile-like 'Hubs.' These are effectively live widgets rather than static app shortcuts, with the six default Microsoft offerings covering People, Pictures, Office, Music, Video, and Games.

The Games Hub, for example, is permanently connected to your Xbox Live profile, and will let you know when any updates arrive courtesy of a little number in the corner. The Pictures Hub, meanwhile, is customised automatically with your own images.

Windows Phone 7 abandons the traditional uniform fonts and plain backgrounds of other mobile OSs in favour of a rather more dramatic and – dare we say it – modern approach.

It’s been heavily influenced by Microsoft’s own Zune HD media player, which was well-received (if largely ignored by the US public). That means oversized white-on-black fonts (which often don’t even fit on the screen) and the liberal use of bold background images.

Ultimately, the Windows Phone 7 OS is looking like a breath of fresh air and a genuine alternative to whatever you’re using at the moment. Even if it proves to be markedly inferior to the likes of Android and iOS, it has the benefit of uniquely tight integration with two very important services – Xbox Live and MS Office.

For many, the Microsoft factor could be worth the switch alone.

Games

This is what we’re here for. Windows Phone 7 is looking to be a very exciting option for pocket gamers.

Indeed, unlike Android and even iPhone, gaming is central to the Windows Phone 7 strategy from the very start. This is evidenced by the fact that 40 per cent of the platform’s launch-day apps will be games.

As mentioned, the OS integrates tightly with Xbox Live, allowing you to access your Avatar and Gamerscore, as well as view your achievements.

Speaking of achievements, the strangely moreish and hugely influential digital rewards can be integrated into Windows Phone 7 games, though it’s not compulsory.

Indeed, there’ll be a split market to allow entry for the kind of small scale, generically featured titles that can already be found on iPhone and Android. Developers will not be forced to adapt their games to meet the stringent Xbox Live requirements, which should ensure a healthy and varied games market.

The initial line-up of games appears to offer a good mix of high-end Microsoft exclusives and recognisable cross-platform fare, and more have been added since that list was announced back in August. Most notably, EA has recently thrown its weight (somewhat cautiously) behind the platform with confirmation of four ports, including The Sims 3.

Another plus point for WP7 has already been hinted at. By insisting on a decent minimum hardware spec (see above), Microsoft should ensure that it avoids the kind of compatibility issues that continue to plague Android gaming.