Windows Phone Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves

"Microsoft paid Nokia $250m in Q4 2011 for adopting Windows Phone, the Finnish company's financial results today have revealed, the first of a "platform support payments" scheme expected to eventually account for billions of dollars. The two companies have always declined to put an exact figure on the "significant investments" Nokia would receive, though this new stat lends weight to earlier talk of over a billion in Microsoft subsidies."

Talk about getting paid - what kind of reward do you think would a CEO get from his shareholders, if he got another company to pony up a billion greenbacks? Conversely, what should the shareholders of Microsoft think of a billion dollars in cash going to somebody else, who isn't even a big name in the US (and losing ground everywhere else)? Still it shows the kind of lengths Microsoft, or should I say Steve Ballmer, will go to to get WP7 into wider circulation. As much hammering as Nokia has taken in the last couple of years, they're still a big presence in most major and emerging markets. This is a gamble, but given the competition, it's probably no time for half measures.

"So here we stand with the best smartphone operating system, best hardware, best development tools and the best mobile web browser. I'm certain that Windows Phone with its army of app developers, OEMs and Mobile Operator partners will be marching to victory this year."

Yes it will, says Rob Tiffany in his blog. How is he so sure? Well, he thinks it's a convergence of a number of factors that play well into Microsoft's hands. For instance, he believes that exciting new hardware options will entice customers from a handset perspective, and developers will be able to develop compelling new apps using Microsoft's effective development environment. Good points, and indeed these will be important factors. I think marketing, product positioning with both vendors and the public, and continual evolution of the reference hardware specs will be important too. Read through his blog and the drop over to our forums to let us know if you think 2012 will be "the" year for Windows Phone.

"We just received a portion of AT&T's 2012 roadmap from a trusted source, and it looks like AT&T isn't playing around this year."

BGR is reporting that a leaked AT&T 2012 roadmap shows the Nokia Lumia 900 will be available on March 18th for $99.00 with a two year contract.

"Pinspiration is the best way to browse and post to Pinterest on your Windows phone. Think of Pinterest as a virtual pinboard - a place to catalog and share the things you love."

Pinspiration is a social network app that allows users to browse and share favorite photos. If you find a photographer you like, you can elect to follow that user and subscribe to their new pins. If you pin the app to the home screen, the Live Tile will rotate through the most popular photos that are currently being shared.

Pinspiration is available in the Marketplace. There is a paid version with full access and an ad supported one. Give the free version a spin here.

"Beginning this Sunday, January 22, AT&T will begin offering new data plans to its US smartphone and tablet customers, its first change to the plans since June 2010."

If you are constantly finding yourself using just a tick over your data plan allowances and thereby incurring overages, AT&T's new data plans may be for you. Smartphone plans are now available in either 300MB ($20), 3GB ($30) and 5GB ($50). Subscribers of the 5GB plan will get tethering tossed in for free. Tablet plans have also been revised to 3GB ($30) and 5GB ($50). The low end 250MB tablet plan for $14.99 is the only plan that remains unchanged.

Of course if you are happy with your current plan, you may elect to stay with it but new subscribers will have to choose from one of the new plans.

The Nokia Lumia 710 was released last week on T-Mobile USA and the reviews have been largely positive. The device is the first Nokia Lumia device released in the US and will come with a large advertising campaign funded by both Microsoft and Nokia. The device has 3.7" screen 5MP camera, and of course Windows Phone 7.5. Tom's Hardware has done a thorough review that looks at the hardware, special features, camera and more. Hit the link for the full review.

"But according to my source, it is indeed temporary. And other carriers will be able to sell the device 45 days after AT&T's launch date of March 18."

Paul Thurrott via his winsupersite blog is citing a rival to AT&T source that has given him some new information on the availability of the Nokia Lumia 900. Supposedly, AT&T's exclusivity on the Lumia 900 will expire in 45 days at which time Nokia will make an improved Lumia 900 with a 12MP camera available to other carriers.

Remember, this rumor is unconfirmed and comes from an AT&T rival.

Product Category: Windows Phone 7 Smartphone

Manufacturer: Samsung

Where to Buy: Expansys [affiliate]

Price: $775 USD (unlocked, no contract)

System Requirements: Comes with Windows Phone 7 Mango (7720) installed.

Specifications: 1.4Ghz single core CPU, 16Gb internal storage, 1Gb RAM; 4.3in WVGA (480 x 800) Super AMOLED screen; Quad band (850/900/1800/1900) GPRS, Tri band UTMS (900/1700/2100), HSPA+; GPS; 8mp colour camera w/autofocus + LED flash, 720p HD video recording; BT 2.1 EDR & A2DP; 802.11b/g/n; 3.5mm stereo audio jack; microUSB 2.0; G-Sensor; 124mm (4.96in) x 66mm (2.6in) x 8.4mm (0.33in); 110g (3.9oz). Full specs are available at the Samsung site.

Pros:

• Large, bright screen with amazing contrast;
• Light weight, but solidly built;
• All round, an amazing phone!

Cons:

• Positioning of the power button makes it easy to 'accidentally' hit and turn it on/off when not intended;
• A keyboard slider version of this phone would be a big bonus;
• Sorry, it only comes in black :-).

Summary: The original Samsung Focus, despite some niggling flaws, multiple versions, and difficulties with upgrades, has been the Windows Phone 7 'phone to beat' almost from the day it arrived. While the HTC Titan and HD7 have been making inroads, the Focus still holds a significant portion of the Windows Phone 7 user community. Now, Samsung has issued the successor in two slightly different models - the Focus S with better specs and screen, and the more budget-minded Focus Flash. While not quite the massiveness of the HTC Titan, Samsung has again shown that it can 'lead the pack' in design and features with the Focus S. Read more...

"#smokedbywindowsphone is a wrap at CES 2012, and it was a raging success! Thousands of people (yes, we had crowds watching the challenges happen) saw first hand why Windows Phone connects them to the stuff and people they care about faster and easier than other smartphones."

The final tally is in for the $100 Windows Phone challenge. Windows Phone won 30 times, lost 3 times and tied once. Not a bad record considering the competition. You can watch the day two wrap up video posted by Microsoft on their Windows Team Blog here.

"WPCentral was lucky enough today to sit down with Nokia's senior vice president, Windows Phone program management Kevin Shields and Joe Belfiore, Microsoft's Corporate Vice President, Windows Phone program management."

It's a fairly long interview, but what you get is some insight into Nokia's plans for entering the US market and the design process for the Lumia 900. Enjoy!