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Video of the Windows Phone 7 Series debuted at the Mobile World Congress

Written by: Shadeed Eleazer

If the mobile wars were not already at a white hot frenzy, Microsoft has definitely added a few coals to the inferno by overhauling its internal mobile strategy for and returning back to the drawing board to hammer out a new release of a new device that looks to aggressively compete with the innovations set forth by Apple’s iPhone and Google Droid SmartPhones.

The most refreshing news surrounding the release of Windows Phone 7 is that it does not resemble an iPhone, as many of the recent releases have seemingly set out to do. The competition is in its innovation. 

The Windows Phone 7 is a departure from the latest rounds of cell-phone interfaces. The user interface is based around information as opposed to applications. The user is greeted with “live tiles” labeled as:

Office, People, Pictures, Games, Marketplace, and Music and Video.

Music and video is handled by Zune, which the user interface mimics. X-Box Live integration is also a plus with this device. The real wonder of the phone is in the People hub, which features real-time updates of Windows Live and Facebook. At the Mobile World Congress, Twitter has not been announced as an integration partner with Windows Phone 7 but you can envision Twitter integration down the line, quite possibly  close to release.

Bing will handle the maps and search duties with Microsoft announcing that Windows Phone 7 devices will have a dedicated button on the keypad.

Expect the Windows Phone 7 device to hit retailers close to holiday season. Hardware partners have lined up to support this device including Dell, Toshiba, Samsung and HP.

Mobile carriers include Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile amongst others.

Written by: Shadeed Eleazer

The DC Metro area public transportation rail system known as the Metrorail has implemented a long-awaited expansion of cell phone service via Verizon. The expansion will service 20 of the busiest Metro platforms.

What if I have a carrier other than Verizon?
Metro patrons who use T-Mobile, Sprint Nextel, and AT&T will be able to surf the Web, text, and make outgoing calls from the approved 20 platforms. The caveat is that the service will be available only on the platforms but once a rider boards the train or inside the tunnel, the reception will be lost.
The Plan for Expansion
Service is expected to expand to cover the entire station for the initial 20 pilot stations. By the close of November 09, the expectations are to have coverage from the surrounding street down to the platform. Fall 2010 should include the remaining 27 stations with the initial wiring.
Full underground coverage is not planned to happen until fall 2012.