Windows Phone - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• Full HD comes to Windows Phone devices

  Microsoft's next Windows Phone update opens the door for 1080p screens and more powerful processors from Qualcomm.

• Smartphone vendors target BYOD enterprises

  Smartphone vendors have rekindled their infatuation with enterprises as the consumer segment fizzles; this week's exhibit is the launch of LG Electronics' Gate, which separates users' professional and private lives through virtualization.

• Microsoft's Nokia deal could benefit rival mobile device vendors, analysts say

  Microsoft's plan to buy Nokia's phone business and have a larger presence in hardware devices has so far brought little response from PC and smartphone vendors in Asia. But the deal could end up bringing dividends to Microsoft's long-time partners in the region by revitalizing the Windows ecosystem, according to analysts.

• Microsoft updates Windows Phone App Studio after developer projects soar

  Microsoft is updating the recently launched beta of Windows Phone App Studio to improve performance and scalability after the new app development tool crossed 55,000 active projects.

• Nokia updates Lumia smartphones with camera app, better imaging

  Nokia has started rolling out the Amber software update to its Lumia smartphones, which will allow users to take better pictures and get new camera apps.

• Microsoft eases development for Windows Phone apps

  Hoping to generate more apps for its mobile platform, Microsoft has launched an online tool that could allow even non-developers to create new programs for Windows Phone 8.

• Surface RT tanks Microsoft's earnings

  Microsoft fell way short of analyst estimates for its fourth fiscal quarter, with revenues nearly a billion dollars short of what analysts had expected.

• Sprint to launch two Windows Phone 8 smartphones this summer

  Sprint announced it will soon sell two Windows Phone 8 smartphones that run over fast LTE, the HTC 8XT and the Samsung ATIV S Neo.

• Skype preview for Windows Phone 8 gets HD video

  The latest version of the Skype for Windows Phone 8 Preview has support for HD video calls on some phones and reinstated integration with the People hub.

• Second wave of Windows 8 client promotions coming soon

  Microsoft is about to embark on a second wave of Windows 8 client hardware promotions and user education, an executive said Wednesday.

• Microsoft exec doesn't rule out Intel-based Windows Phones

  After Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer made a surprise appearance during a Qualcomm keynote at International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), some analysts wondered how married the company is to Snapdragon chips and the ARM-based ecosystem.

• Microsoft releases Windows Phone 8 SDK

  One day after the launch of its next generation mobile operating system, Windows Phone 8, Microsoft has released the SDK (software development kit) that will allow programmers to write applications for the new platform.

• Windows is Sara Lee's favourite mobile OS flavour

  Sara Lee chose Windows Phone handsets for its workforce over BlackBerry, Android or iPhone. The Sydney-based food manufacturing company announced it is giving staff Nokia Lumia 800 handsets running on the Optus network.

• Microsoft dissecting Windows Phone messaging bug

  <a href="http://www.networkworld.com/subnets/microsoft/">Microsoft</a> <a href="http://www.networkworld.com/topics/windows.html">Windows</a> Phone engineers are reviewing a report that various messaging technologies can be used to send the phone into a reboot and then freeze its messaging center, or hub.

• Microsoft to host unveiling of new Windows Phone handsets

  No one expects <a href="http://www.networkworld.com/topics/windows.html">Windows</a> Phone to leap over Google <a href="http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/110910-google-android-useful-resources-smartphones.html">Android</a> and <a href="http://www.networkworld.com/slideshows/2009/060309-apple-quiz.html">Apple</a> iOS in a single bound, but industry analysts have been revising their projections for Windows Phone, now forecasting a dramatic surge in sales over the coming 12 months. Other data finds growing consumer awareness of and interest in the <a href="http://www.networkworld.com/subnets/microsoft/">Microsoft</a> platform, almost exactly a year after the first Windows Phone handsets became available on all major U.S. carriers. [<a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/en-us/buy/7/default.aspx">Find here the full current lineup</a> of handsets, including those formally debuting next week.]