Microsoft Announces Windows Mobile Phone 7 Series

Microsoft is taking on a very ambitious project, changing everything we know about Windows Mobile phones. The company has just announced Windows Mobile Phone 7 Series, a brand new OS which takes a completely different direction then we’ ve seen in the past.

The new OS looks nothing like previous versions. The familiar Start screen has been replaced with “tiles” that scroll vertically. The company is now focusing on services like Xbox Live, Zune, and social networking. In fact many of the tiles will show live updates from multiple social networking site, allowing you to jump back and forth between them all.

“Windows phones bring together the best of the Web, the PC and the phone so you can connect instantly to the experiences you care about, no matter where you are,” Ballmer said. “We’re working with partners across the industry to deliver a new generation of Windows phones that break down the barriers between people, information and applications and provide great end-to-end experiences that span your entire life, at work and at home.”

Although most devices are expected to look similar at first (high res touchscreen with 3 buttons) many handset manufacturers are already  jumping on board including Dell, Garmin-Asus, HTC, HP, LG, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba and Qualcomm.

As for carriers interest has already been expressed by AT&T, Deutsche Telekom AG, Orange, SFR, Sprint, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telstra, T-Mobile USA, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone.

Microsoft may very well have something big here. Not only with the social networking aspect but with Xbox Live integration as well. Imagine seeing what your friends are playing online in real time and being able to chat with them. Ya, pretty awesome.

[Via Microsoft]