Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer today announced that the US-based software firm would release its next mobile operating system in the second half of this year.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, India, the Microsoft boss said that Windows Phone 7, as the OS is known, will ship sometime in 2010, reported the Dow Jones newswire. The yet-to-be-released software features a start screen that rejects static icons in favor of real-time feeds from the networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.
The new software also offers always-on access to e-mail, Xbox games, Bing search, and other tools. Following into the footsteps of rival Apple, Microsoft said that it is planning to launch an online store through which customers can purchase and download applications for Windows Phone 7 devices.
Ballmer added that Microsoft Corp will focus on developing its product line and plans to release revamped operating system for mobile phones by the year-end,
“The focus is on everyday like what we should be doing to our product line, how do we make products more innovative... the Windows Phone 7 will be released by Christmas,” Ballmer stressed.
