In a Q&A session at the recent "Connect!" technology summit in London, Microsoft UK head of mobile Phil Moore admitted that with its iPhone, Apple entered the market with a fresh approach that holds sway in the consumer market still and continued that Microsoft is currently playing catch-up in the market with Apple: "We're still playing catch-up. When Apple came on to the scene a couple of years ago, it threw away the rulebook and reinvented it. We unfortunately don't have that luxury. It's true, Apple caught us all napping. It launched something that was very iconic, new and unseen with a very good user interface."

But he suggested that Windows Mobile 7 will redress the balance even if Moore confirmed, that Windows Mobile 7 won't make it to the market anytime early 2010: "It (Windows Mobile 7) has been put back until late next year but it is definitely coming. You're going to see a lot more on Windows Mobile 7. Giving the enterprise users and consumers what they want will be part of Windows Mobile 7. You'll get flexibility on a much easier touch UI."

It was somewhat expected that Windows Mobile 7 won't get a market-start in early 2010. However, so far there was no official word about what Windows Mobile 7 might be about. Basically it's the first unofficial confirmation that Windows Mobile 7 seems to focus on a touch UI. Also interesting is the statement that Windows Mobile 7 will give the enterprise user and consumer what they want since it seems that Microsoft has finally identified the consumer as an addressable-market as well.

Cheers ~ Arne