Windows Mobile 7 Meetup hosted by Mobile Monday Bangalore

Few notes from the meetup: -
- The next big thing is Mobile and Cloud Computing.
- WP7 UI design is inspired by US Metro design.
- WP7 wants consistent platform experience to users across devices
- Cloud enabled push notifications
- End user customization
- Development Tools: Visual Studio 2010, Sliverlight, XNA, Blend 4 for app designing
- Currently 12 k apps in WP7 store
- Has a sandbox framework and no IPC communication
- WP7 learned mistakes from other platforms and trying to fill in those gaps
- No internal DB support, use isolated storage data on phone or place it on cloud
- 3 Philosophy : Apps running on Xbox, Desktop & mobiles all stored on cloud
- Users can enable only 15 notifications for 3rd party apps
- Inbuild Bing maps and Bing search API exposed
- XNA and Sliverlight rendering engine is different
- OEMs will need to compliance to specific hardware requirements
- High level device driver programming is a part of software stack programmed and managed by Microsoft
- Market place validated the app and then issues a licensing to public the app on store
- In India the payment gateway for market place is not ready.
- Kinect gaming, 3D, NFC & more enterprise features in the upcoming version of WP7.

WP7 Overview Slideshare: http://slidesha.re/hP7Jsx

I would say that WP7 is a smartly controlled mobile platform and it’s totally committed to the consumers and want to give an unique experience by developing cool and innovative apps with the support of the developer community.

Nokia + Microsoft look promising

Everyone has a say on this, so let me take this opportunity to blog on why I have a positive view towards the partnership between Nokia and Microsoft.
As Nokia announced Microsoft’s new Windows Phone 7 (WP7) to be its “primary” smartphone operating system moving forward; many felt betrayed, while I was seeing some positive sides here:

Positive key points out of this engagement:
* Microsoft back in game, positioned as “third mobile ecosystem” challenger to Apple’s iOS and Android
* Nokia handset fans will be looking forward for the first Nokia WP7
* Developers have once more option, to look out innovation and also earn money (get some free phones)
* With good Nokia hardware and Microsoft supporting the device with good enterprise capabilities with amazing UX, for-sure can win the minds and hearts of those Billion users with lower price featured phones
* Learning from the mistakes and weakness of Apple and Google they for sure have a long game to play in the Mobile Wireless market.
* Nokia will be targeting various price tiers with its WP7 range (not just the high-end) as it goes after mass market high volumes. A potential to significantly disrupt the current smartphone ecosystem.
* RIM under pressure as a “fourth” mobile ecosystem, while Intel must
* Merger of services assets, a good strategic fit as each firm has strengths in different areas; notably Nokia in mapping and Microsoft in search and advertising.
* Consumers the King; More competition, more innovation, more business opportunity, more devices and more fun in learning and sharing.

My Message:
“Agreed that Android 3.0 is flooding the market and hers coming the iPad 2 killer, with some bad history I still think that this partnership built on huge risk will have something big to offer to the Consumers & developers if they play the game smartly and quickly”.

Few things that they need to do is:
• Build up the infrastructure for the develop community to come and build good applications
• Get on with forming a partnership community asking partners to contribute to the platform and drive innovation quickly
• Get the Nokia WinMob7 featured phone ASAP in to the market
• Evangelize and make people aware about the platform architected
• Openness is the key here with perfect blend of security control and freedom for anyone who wants to contribute to the platform for making it better and best.
• Indentify the market where they want to make a difference and rule.
• Believing in the policy “Your success is mine”.
• Build smart phones which my Grandma can use with ease.