Windows Phone VP Joe Belfiore explains the updates in the following video, but LR Mobile has broken out the most notable improvements below.
Why this matters
Mango is Microsoft's entryway back into smartphone relevancy, and the company knew it had to make a big splash. It is essentially responsible for reviving Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) smartphones, so a complete overhaul of its OS was an important first step. It'll be important to other handset makers and carriers who have committed to the platform as well.
Microsoft said Tuesday that Acer Inc. , Fujitsu Ltd. (Tokyo: 6702; London: FUJ; OTC: FJTSY) and ZTE Corp. (Shenzhen: 000063; Hong Kong: 0763) will build phones for the OS. It also promised 4G Mango phones from existing partners Samsung Corp. , LG Electronics Inc. (London: LGLD; Korea: 6657.KS) and High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC) (Taiwan: 2498), but didn't define what the "4G" speeds would be.
Pyramid Research believes Microsoft has the chops to pull off its Mango-led revival and may lead the OS pack as early as 2013. It will come down to how the software giant markets and executes the OS and how its partners price and promote the devices. (See Why Windows Phone Will Beat Android.)
For more
Mango will be available on new and existing Windows Phone devices this Fall as a free update. Read up on the journey to the unpeeling below.
- Analyzing a Busy Week for Microsoft
- Microsoft Plans a WP7 Skype Soiree
- OS Watch: Sprint Snags First CDMA WP7 Phone
- MWC 2011: Microsoft & Nokia Court Carriers
- Symbian Is Dead. Long Live Windows Phone
— Sarah Reedy, Senior Reporter, Light Reading Mobile
Where's the list of the 500 updates Microsoft has made to Mango?? You can't throw out a number like that without proof!