Windows Phone Vice-President Terry Myerson and Joe Belfiore, Corporate Vice President, Windows Phone Program, today took to the stage for the Windows Phone Summit. Here is a summary of the event:
- Event focused on Windows Phone 8
- Windows Phone 8 will have a Shared Windows Core with Windows 8 (kernel, networking, multimedia, etc).
- Shared Core will allow a much larger range of devices in terms of form factors, capabilities, and price. It will also make development between Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 much easier.
- Windows Phone 7.5 apps will work on Windows Phone 8 without needing any changes.
- 8 platform announcements made:
- Windows 8 hardware support:
- Multi-core processors with focus on dual-core for this fall’s release
- Wider screen resolution support (WVGA, WXGA, and 720p)
- MicroSD support
- Internet Explorer 10 with same HTML rendering engine as desktop version.
- Native code support (including DirectX and graphics drivers) promising “killer games”
- Support for native NFC
- Mobile wallet support – the “most complete wallet experience” with secure payment and support for 3rd party apps
- Mobile wallet secure elements will come on the SIM which allows easier phone transfer (rather than phone as Google has chosen to do with Android).
- Every Windows Phone will include the wallet hub. Orange will be the first carrier to launch a secure SIM with an ISIS solution to come with next year.
- Windows Phone 8 will use Nokia’s mapping technology with NAVTEQ data. Will support offline support, turn-by-turn directions.
- Business and enterprise support:
- Trusted shared Windows Core
- Encryption and Secure Boot
- LOB App deployment
- Device management
- Familiar Office apps
- The “sexiest thing in Windows Phone 8:” A new Start screen with icons of different sizes and more colours:
- Windows Phone 8 partner lineup: Nokia, HTC, Huawei, Samsung with Qualcomm to offer “next generation silicon”
- All Windows Phone 8 updates will be delivered over-the-air.
- From launch, Microsoft will offer updates for devices for at least 18 months.
- Windows Phone 8 will not run on existing Windows Phone hardware. A separate update with the new Start screen will be provided.
- Nokia will also offer a number of new applications to current devices: Play To DLNA application, Nokia Counters to track data and voice usage, updated Nokia Music App, new camera extensions, and Nokia navigation app updates.
- Over 100,000 apps now in the Windows Phone App Marketplace.
Windows Phone 8 will be released this fall with new devices.
I can’t wait to get my hands on a device running Windows Phone 8. There is a lot of promise here.