Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday officially unveiled the
latest version of its mobile operating system, touting new features
that differentiate itself from competitors.
The major new update of Microsoft's Windows phone software,
codenamed Mango, includes hundreds of new features that will deliver
smarter and easier communications, applications and Internet
experiences, the company said.
For example, the new software can integrate a user's text message,
email, Facebook and Twitter chats, Windows Live Messenger in one,
easy-to-access location, allowing the user to switch between them
within the same conversation.
There is also a feature that can connect applications already on a
Windows phone, or new applications available to download, with search
results and users' other activities in a way that Microsoft said is
deeper than any other platform.
Mango will use a mobile version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer 9
browser, and will leverage built-in phone capabilities like location
awareness, camera and microphone to offer more relevant search results
and local information and suggestions.
"Mango builds on the work that we did in Windows Phone 7 and extends
a lot of key scenarios around communications, apps, and Internet
experiences -- with even more capability and a deeper level of
integration," Greg Sullivan, senior product manager of mobile
communications at Microsoft, said in a statement.
Microsoft said Mango will be offered for free to all eligible Windows phone customers when it's available in the fall.
The company on Tuesday also announced new partnerships with Acer,
Fujitsu and ZTE in its latest efforts to bring more Windows phone
handsets to the market. Xinhua
