Microsoft debuted Windows Phone 8, the latest version of the company’s smartphone operating system, at an event in San Francisco today (29 October 2012).
As part of the announcement, Microsoft revealed new features, including Kid’s Corner and Rooms, along with details and US pricing for the range of new smartphones from Nokia, Samsung and HTC.
Windows Phone 8 devices will go on sale in November at AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon in the U.S., Microsoft said, as well as at carriers and retailers around the world.
South Africa is one of the countries set to receive new Windows Phone 8 devices in November 2012, with a local launch event scheduled for 31 October 2012. HTC, Nokia, and Samsung have confirmed that they will be launching devices in SA but have yet to reveal launch dates and pricing.
Among the new features announced for the device were:
Windows Phone 8 unveiling
Live Apps: Live Apps bring information to the Start screen, such as the Groupon deal of the day, flight information and news headlines. Apps such as Facebook can deliver real-time information to the lock screen too.
Kid’s Corner: This feature is intended to let parents share their phone with their kids without worrying about deleted photos, misdirected e-mails, unapproved purchases or accidental phone calls. Parents can activate a specialised place on the phone for kids to play, complete with its own customisable Start screens, where they can access only the apps, games, music and videos chosen by parents.
Rooms: This lets users chat and share calendars, shopping lists or photos in an ongoing conversation where only those invited can join in. Some aspects of Rooms can be shared with those on other smartphones as well.
Data Sense. Microsoft promised that Data Sense would help conserve your data allowance by compressing Web images, deferring data tasks to free Wi-Fi and automatically adjusting usage as you get closer to your data plan limits. This feature is operator specific with only Verizon in the US confirmed to receive it this year.
Microsoft also announced that Pandora, an Internet radio service, is coming to Windows Phone in early 2013 with one year of ad-free music.
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