Microsoft announces details of Windows Phone ‘Mango’

REDMOND, United States – Today Microsoft has announced the key new ingredients of the latest ‘Mango’ release of the Windows Phone operating system. This is the software that will be used on the first Nokia with Windows Phone devices, and so should be of keen interest to Nokia-watchers everywhere. Read on for all the details.

There are three main sections to the new release.

Communications

• Better social integration – Facebook was already deeply integrated into Windows Phone. Mango sees the arrival of Twitter and Linked-In to the mix, with the latest updates from your contacts appearing in contacts. Facebook location check-ins are now also supported and there’s new facial-recognition software to make tagging photos easier before you upload them.
• Linked inbox – This frequently-requested view allows users to combine the contents of several inboxes into one. Mail is organised into conversations, so the latest updates are always at the top.
• Threads – Carry on your conversation with SMS, Facebook chat and Windows Live Messenger on the same screen – so you can concentrate on the information, not which app you’re using.
• Hands-free messaging – Text-to-voice and voice-to-text engines allow for easier texting and chatting while you’re on the move.
• Groups – put a bunch of contacts into their dedicated Live Tile so you can quickly see their latest updates and send a text, email or IM to the whole group right from the home screen.

Smarter apps

• Improved Live Tiles – these can now hold more information and be more dynamic.
• App Connect – apps can now be included in searches (e.g. when you search for ‘movies’, the results include apps that help you find films showing in local cinemas).
• Multitasking – switch quickly between apps and allow apps to run in the background.

Better Internet

• Internet Explorer 9 – the built-in browser provides support for HTML5 and full hardware acceleration.
• Local Scout – This app provides hyper-local search results for information on shopping, restaurants and activities.
• Better Bing – Mango provides new ways to search including Bing Vision, Bing Audio and voice.

Here’ a video with Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore, who gives a good introduction to the key features and the way apps work in the new release:

And here’s the promo video:

There’s a bunch more on the Windows Phone YouTube channel.

“We are very excited about our strategic partnership with Microsoft, and Mango is a great milestone for the first Nokia with Windows Phone devices,” said Jo Harlow, executive vice president for Smart Devices, Nokia. “We believe Mango offers developers opportunities to create new mobile experiences leveraging both companies complementary assets while providing consumers with a new choice in mobile.”