Windows Phone 7 is alive!

Contrary to popular belief, Windows Phone 7 is far from deceased.  After numerous speculations from just about every tech firm on the web, Microsoft has finally announced official numbers in regards to Windows Phone 7.  As it turns out, over 1.5 million Windows Phones have been shipped to retailers in the first six weeks of the system’s availability.  Previous rumours speculated that Microsoft had sold fewer than forty thousand units, leading many to start writing Windows Phone 7′s obituary.  In addition to the hardware announcement, Microsoft also noted that over 4,000 apps have been released in the Windows Phone Marketplace, which indicates stronger growth than both Apple and Google’s own app stores in their first 6 weeks of availability.  Currently, Microsoft also claims that over 15,000 developers have registered to release apps on the Marketplace – a good indication that the app catalog will continue to increase. 

Achim Berg, Vice President of Business and Marketing for Windows Phone, stated:

“We introduced a new platform with Windows Phone 7, and when you do that it takes time to educate partners and consumers on what you’re delivering, and drive awareness and interest in your new offering. We’re comfortable with where we are, and we are here for the long run; Windows Phone 7 is just the beginning.”

Looking towards the future, analysts expect that Microsoft will devote a large portion of their CES keynote presentation to Windows Phone.  Microsoft has previously stated that the Copy & Paste feature would be added to Windows Phone 7 in January, so many predict that the first major update will be announced at CES, which will be held January 6-9.  Other rumoured features that might be added in this update are HTML5 and an updated version of Silverlight.  Even further down the road we expect Microsoft to deliver the next big Windows Phone 7 update at the Mobile World Congress event, which is held in February in Barcelona.