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I think windows mobile is going to struggle in the next year or two - it may not even survive. I think people forget that Microsoft captured the PDA market from Palm not simply by copying them but by giving customers more of what they wanted. Back in those days it was high resolution color screens, multi tasking and improved media features but they basically packed the devices with more features than anyone else.
Today Nokia lead the way in terms of feature packed smart-phones - with the Nokia N95 being the flagship device. Apple lead in terms of design and usability with the Iphone.
It wont be enough to simply release an improved GUI for Windows Mobile 7. Microsoft need to do something really special to bring back the "wow" factor to windows mobile.
Personally i would like to see them start by significantly improving some of the existing functions".
1. A screen that works well enough in direct sunlight to allow me to watch a movie or play a game outside. Further screen development for better e-book reading.
2. Speakers that provide a richer sound with more bass so that my device could fill a small office or room without distortion.
3. A Radio that works without having to plug the headphones in as an antenna - perhaps DAB radio if possible.
4. Integrated snap on/off bluetooth headset that is charged with the phone.
5. Better gaming controls - maybe like the PSP analog button.
The problem with this is that they are mainly hardware improvements - and Microsoft do not do hardware for phones.
On the software front they need to look at improving the GUI - which we know they are working on but they need to add some killer functions like;
1. Better Voice to text recognition.
2. Mobile TV - and not one reliant on network bandwidth.
3. Releasing high quality mobile versions of Microsoft / XBox games with XBox live integration (like they announced two years ago)
4. better handwriting recognition (I still want to take handwritten notes on my phone)
5. Consumer home entertainment remote control software (and better integrated hardware). This is an opportunity that was explored with PDAs but never took off (i think mainly because of the high price point of PDAs which were not financed by network contracts) - I think that proper remote control functions in a mobile phone would be a great selling point.
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