According to the latest information released by the Windows Phone team, Windows Phone 7.5 Mango is now available to 100 percent of eligible devices, although there seem to be just a few devices left which are waiting for the update.
According to a recent blog post, the Samsung Omnia 7 on Telefonica is still in testing, as is the Dell Venue Pro on AT&T and the Samsung Focus 1.4 on AT&T, so we guess that just three devices left out of all the Windows Phone devices is pretty good.
Features of Windows Phone 7.5 Mango
Windows Phone 7.5 Mango brought a plethora of new features and improvements to the Windows Phone platform. One of the most notable additions was the introduction of multitasking, allowing users to switch between apps seamlessly without losing their place. This was a significant enhancement over the previous version, which had limited multitasking capabilities.
Another major feature was the integration of social networks directly into the phone’s operating system. Users could now see updates from Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn directly in their contacts list, making it easier to stay connected with friends and colleagues. The People Hub was also enhanced to provide a more comprehensive view of social interactions.
The update also included improvements to the web browsing experience with Internet Explorer 9. This brought hardware acceleration and HTML5 support, making web pages load faster and look better. Additionally, the Bing search engine was deeply integrated into the OS, offering features like Local Scout for finding nearby places of interest, and Bing Vision for scanning QR codes and barcodes.
Impact on the Market
The release of Windows Phone 7.5 Mango was a critical moment for Microsoft as it sought to gain a foothold in the competitive smartphone market. At the time, iOS and Android were dominating, and Microsoft needed to offer something compelling to attract users and developers to its platform.
The update was generally well-received, with many praising its smooth performance and user-friendly interface. The live tiles, which provided real-time updates on the home screen, were a unique feature that set Windows Phone apart from its competitors. This visual and functional differentiation was crucial in attracting users who were looking for an alternative to the more static icons of iOS and Android.
Despite these advancements, the market response was mixed. While some users and tech enthusiasts appreciated the new features and improvements, the platform struggled to gain significant market share. One of the challenges was the limited number of apps available compared to the vast libraries offered by iOS and Android. Microsoft worked hard to attract developers, but the smaller user base made it a tough sell.
You can find out more information about the Windows Phone 7.5 Mango update over at the Windows Phone Blog.
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