Microsoft is serious about mobile: The race begins !

Black Berry, Apple Now Mango?

Microsoft previewed the next major release of Windows Phone, code-named “Mango,” through a series of media events around the world.  Microsoft  claim that, “Mango” will deliver more than 500 new features to push the boundaries of the smartphone experience around communications, apps and the Internet.

“When we looked ahead to the next release, we wanted to stay true to the principles of Windows Phone 7 – that software should get out of your way and quickly connect you to the things that matter most,” said Greg Sullivan, senior product manager of mobile communications at Microsoft. “Mango builds on the work that we did in Windows Phone 7 and extends a lot of key scenarios around communications, apps, and Internet experiences – with even more capability and a deeper level of integration.”

Watch the video..

Here are the list of features coming from Microsoft itself:

• Third-party Multi-tasking
• Twitter integration in People Hub
• Office 365 and SkyDrive support in Office Hub
• Internet Explorer 9 Mobile
• Improved application discovery
• Custom ringtones support
• Over-the-air Podcasts Download
• Better marketplace navigation
• Bing Search “Extras”
• Multiple Live Tiles per app
• Revamped Games Hub
• Expanded language support
• Configurable background services
• Pinnable email folders and conversation view
• Microsoft Lync Mobile app
• 1500+ New APIs (Motion Sensor, Gyro, Sockets, Database and more)
• Private and Beta Marketplace and Parental Controls
• Exchange Server email search, enhanced security and information rights management, and support for hidden WiFi network

Communications: Easier to Connect and Share

The smartphone experience can be complicated by a sea of disconnected apps and accounts as people attempt to keep pace with all the ways they communicate — from calls, texts, email and instant messages (IM) to status updates, Tweets, check-ins, photo posting and tagging. To help people stay on top of that growing complexity, the “Mango” release organizes information around the person or group people want to interact with, not the app they have to use.

•	Threads. Switch between text, Facebook chat and Windows Live Messenger within the same conversation.
•	Groups. Group contacts into personalized Live Tiles to see the latest status updates right from the Start Screen and quickly send a text, email or IM to the whole group.
•	Deeper social network integration. Twitter and LinkedIn feeds are now integrated into contact cards, and “Mango” includes built-in Facebook check-ins and new face detection software that makes it easier to quickly tag photos and post to the Web.
•	Linked inbox. See multiple email accounts in one linked inbox. Conversations are organized to make it easy to stay on top of the latest mail.
•	Hands-free messaging. Built-in voice-to-text and text-to-voice support enables hands-free texting or chatting.

A Smarter Approach to Apps

Windows Phone will challenge the way people think about apps. Today their usefulness is measured by what can be done within the app, but Microsoft sees the promise of apps in how they can be integrated directly into the core experiences of the phone. In addition to making it easy to get timely notifications and updates from apps right from the Start Screen, the “Mango” release also will surface apps as part of search results and within Windows Phone Hubs. As a result, a useful app is more likely to be right there when needed.

•	App Connect. By connecting apps to search results and deepening their integration with Windows Phone Hubs, including Music and Video and Pictures, “Mango” allows apps to be surfaced when and where they make sense.
•	Improved Live Tiles. Get real-time information from apps without having to open them. Live Tiles can be more dynamic and hold more information.
•	Multitasking. Quickly switch between apps in use and allow apps to run in the background, helping to preserve battery life and performance.

Taking the Internet Beyond the Browser

In addition to including Internet Explorer, the “Mango” release will connect the power of the Web to the unique capabilities of Windows Phones, such as location awareness, camera and access to apps, to present a way of viewing the Web that is more localized, actionable and relevant.

•	Internet Explorer 9. A browser based on the powerful Internet Explorer 9 and including support for HTML5 and full hardware acceleration.
•	Local Scout. Provides hyperlocal search results and recommends nearby restaurants, shopping and activities in an easy-to-use guide.
•	Bing on Windows Phone. More ways to search the Web, including Bing Vision, Music Search and Voice so it’s easy to discover and decide.
•	Quick Cards. When searching for a product, movie, event or place, see a quick summary of relevant information, including related apps.

One more video ..

Find information on the Beta Mango Tools here.

Read the announcement of Window Phone Marketplace of the Web for Mango here.