Microsoft Windows Mobile 7 Q & A

After a content rich day full of Microsoft Windows Mobile 7, five questions kept popping up concerning Windows Phone 7. What follows are the various questions ( not necessarily listed by importance ) and possible answers provided by Charlie Kindel, who’s spearheading the Windows Phone 7 development charge.

Q: What development languages are supported on Windows Phone 7?

A: The only development language supported is C# at this stage. Developers are also interested in Visual Basic, C++ and other .Net apps, Kindel acknowledged, and Microsoft may add support for these over time. But Microsoft’s development strategy for its new mobile platform is if you’re doing XAML programming, use Silverlight. If you’re doing an interactive or 3D game, go with XNA.

Q: Can Windows Mobile 7 devices multitask?

A: Kindel said Microsoft’s own “experiences” which are part of the Windows Phone 7 will allow for multitasking (i.e., music playing in the background while you’re doing e-mail). But third party applications won’t have the same multitasking capabilities, Kindel said.

Q: How is the Dorado (Zune PC software) going to change to accommodate Microsoft Windows Mobile 7 devices?

A: Dorado becomes the "only software you’ll need" to sync your phone, Kindel said. Dorado will replace ActiveSync and will be the conduit for all audio/video content on your phone.

Q: What about enterprise developers/customers? Is Microsoft Windows Mobile 7 for them?

A: Kindel admitted Microsoft’s target for the first generation of Windows Phone 7 devices is consumers more than business users. "We don’t expect enterprises to go out there and buy these (Windows Phone 7 devices) en masse for their employees," he said.

Q: Is the new Windows Phone Marketplace the only way that users will be able to download/purchase Windows Phone 7 applications?

A: The short answer is yes. Applications and content must be purchased through the marketplace, as Microsoft is attempting to streamline the distribution mechanism for mobile content, officials said.