Microsoft Pulls Out All the Resource Stops for Windows Phone 7

Given the head start that Apple (AAPL) and Google (GOOG) have in the smartphone market, Microsoft (MSFT) can't afford to leave anything to chance. And it's not. The company is gearing up to provide an enormous amount of support, from helping OEMs design differentiating applications to extensive cloud network services to enhance phone operations.

A nod to Engadget for uncovering the OEM support aspect of Microsoft's plans to help OEMs develop applications "that make their devices stand out in the marketplace." Engadget referred to a June 1 job posting, though a search on the web turned up similar language in a May 20 job post:

We are looking for a strong and experienced developer to help the OEM to design and develop applications that make their devices stand out in the marketplace. You will also help them to bring new phones to market. As you work on these cool new devices, you will be in a unique position to evaluate and provide feedback on the Windows Mobile platform that will lead to higher device stability and quality. Close collaboration with internal terms and external OEM partners will be essential for success in this role.

• Windows Phone services plans " a real-time, highly-available and scalable, network service in the cloud to significantly enhance the phone user's browsing, email and social networking experience." Sounds like Kin's social networking connections were a test bed. A main goal is "to reduce the bandwidth and spectrum usage by the applications running on the device by proxying all the data traffic through our service and deploying various techniques around compression, redundency [sic] elimination, adaptive streaming and traffic shaping ." Read that as not only speeding user experience, but trying to be attractive to carriers, that are worried about data consumption.
• Mobile commerce and e-payment facilities, creating ways to create mobile payments for retail purchases. In other words, Microsoft will draw in retailers for support, rather than trying to create a completely walled-off approach like Apple.
• Microsoft sees its Windows Phone Services as a key in battling Apple and Google. And, according to another job posting, Microsoft plans extensive services for the Windows Phone 7 debut.
• Another job posting reminded me of a previously released detail that Windows Phone 7 would integrate Xbox Live gaming. Microsoft Games Studio will also create a mobile division to deliver phone-specific titles.
• Microsoft Office will be another key tools to attract phone users.

Related:

• 30M Windows Phone 7 Handsets by 2011? Yup -- It's Math, not Magic
• Microsoft Reorganizes the Wrong Part of Its Organization
• Four Encouraging Signs that Microsoft Is Finally Getting a Clue