The current version of Microsoft’s mobile operating system, Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, has support for a total of 35 different languages. Now, it would appear that Microsoft will be increasing this in the next major version of Windows Phone.
According to a recent report, Microsoft intends to add an additional 85 languages in Windows Phone Tango, which would take the supported languages up to a total of 120.
Expanding Language Support
The news comes from the guys over at WPSauce, who said the information was announced at a Windows Phone developer event in India. This significant increase in language support is a strategic move by Microsoft to make Windows Phone more accessible and appealing to a global audience. By supporting 120 languages, Microsoft aims to cater to a diverse user base, ensuring that more people around the world can use their devices in their native languages.
This expansion is particularly important in emerging markets where smartphone penetration is rapidly increasing. For instance, countries like India, Brazil, and Indonesia have a multitude of regional languages and dialects. By offering extensive language support, Microsoft can better compete with other mobile operating systems like Android and iOS, which already have broad language support.
Support for C++ and Developer Implications
In addition to the extra language support, Windows Phone will also offer support for C++ in future versions. This is a significant development for app developers. C++ is a powerful programming language that allows for more efficient and high-performance applications. By supporting C++, Microsoft is opening the door for developers to create more complex and resource-intensive apps, which can enhance the overall user experience on Windows Phone devices.
The original article has since been removed from WPSauce, probably at the request of Microsoft. This suggests that the information might have been leaked ahead of an official announcement. We could possibly get an official announcement at WMC 2012 next month.
The addition of C++ support is likely to attract more developers to the Windows Phone platform. Historically, one of the challenges Microsoft has faced is the relatively smaller app ecosystem compared to Android and iOS. By making the platform more developer-friendly, Microsoft hopes to encourage the development of a wider variety of apps, which in turn can attract more users to the platform.
Moreover, the combination of increased language support and C++ integration positions Windows Phone as a more versatile and powerful operating system. This could be a game-changer for Microsoft, helping them to gain a stronger foothold in the competitive mobile OS market.
Source, BGR
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