Updates include text-to-speech and speech-to-text tools, threaded messages, chats and IMs all integrated into the same conversation, users will also get grouped contact tiles, Twitter and LinkedIn contacts pulled directly into the mobile’s address book.So far Windows phones have not proved a hit with consumers with Microsoft only managing to hold onto a 3.8 percent share of the smartphone market.
“Seven months ago we started our mission to make smartphones smarter and easier for people to do more,” said Andy Lees, president of Microsoft’s mobile communications at last night’s launch event.
“With Mango, Windows Phone take a major step forward in redefining how people communicate and use apps and the internet,” he added.
Mango will integrate SMS, Facebook chat and Windows Live Messenger into the same window.
Other features of the updated Windows phone will include a single inbox for all e-mail accounts and deeper social network integration with the addition of Twitter and LinkedIn to contact information.
At last night’s presentation Microsoft said that they have improved the Live Tiles to allow the display of more dynamic information from apps. They also said that Internet Explorer 9 will be available as well as support for HTML5.
Multitasking which is already available on other Smartphone OS will allow apps to run in the background without depleting the battery
In Australia carriers have said that they are still carrying large stocks of WP7 phones which they are hoping to clear using price promotions.
Meanwhile Nokia who is banking on the WP7 OS has said that they are hoping to have multiple WP7 devices by the last quarter however they have warned carriers not to “bank on it” happening.
Last night Nokia’s Smart Devices VP Jo Harlow said that she wasn’t ready to say for certain that Nokia would make 2011.
She told Forbes that the target was “absolutely still this year” and that it “looks good.” Harlow also fuelled rumours of multiple devices at once” with word that it would start with a “smart portfolio” of devices, not just one.
Earlier hints have suggested that the two first phones, the W7 and W8, would be direct conversions of the X7 and N8 with Windows Phone and new hardware.
Harlow said that Nokia was exploring NFC on Windows Phone along with its outgoing Symbian platform. The company was helping carriers make NFC readers along with creating phones to use them.
CDMA was also becoming important. Nokia has had phones in recent years like the Twist, but for the most part has kept it away from its smartphone mix. Harlow explained that Nokia was “working in that direction” to expand the company’s reach.
The VP reiterated a cautious approach to tablets and was clear that the company would only get involved if it could have truly unique models.
