Since the launch of the first iPhone people have increasingly disregarded Microsoft’s Windows Mobile seemingly mostly due to its unchanged appearance and UI. Windows mobile is actually a very capable mobile OS with one of the widest range of devices, the largest number of applications and the most functionality. But in the world of technology only the newest devices with the most potential get the headlines and therefore the most people buying them.

What has amazed me though is how people are predicting the end for Windows Mobile because of the likes of the iPhone, Android, webOS and Blackberries. The iPhone was launched in 2007, Android 2008 and webOS in 2009, what’s wrong with Microsoft lauching their mobile OS in 2010. Yes Microsoft will be leaving it late but won’t be completely off the mark.

I grant you that the current version of Windows Mobile could well be the one which is the least friendly to consumers, however many other mobile OSs are still adding features which Windows Mobile has had for a long time.

With Windows Mobile 7 Microsoft will have to offer all the functionality, and more, of Windows Mobile (6.5), which will probably mean it will offer more functionality than any other OS on the market. This will be one of the better features of Windows Mobile 7 where it shouldn’t need to play catch-up with its competitors as it should be building on what functionality Windows Mobile already offers.

Microsoft already have a very healthy relationship with many device manufactures and as far as I can it sounds like Microsoft is tightening the constraints on those companies to ensure updates are provided quicker.

If Microsoft are clever they will integrate all their services and products deep within Windows Mobile 7 such as Windows Live, Zune and Office to raise awareness, bring great user experience to mobiles and stop various teams of Microsoft from competing with each other(such as Media Center, Media Player and Zune). Microsoft certainly wont be fined for bundling applications or services when Apple and Google are doing it far more prolifically.

Now to the backend of Windows Mobile 7, I can’t see Microsoft keeping the current set up and just tweaking it because too many people have complaints with it and its needs and overhaul. The problem for Microsoft, and its customers, is that it means they will need to build up a brand new library of applications and I doubt old applications will be able to run in the new mobile OS. In some ways this will be good as a lot of Windows Mobile apps are very ugly. Microsoft will also look at making it very easy for developers to write a program for a vast array of devices.

Now on to how Microsoft will handle applications, Apple is often criticised for its application approval system and I’ve heard some people having complaints with Android’s deployment of applications on various devices. If Microsoft can get the Marketplace, developer ecosystem and the coding for Windows Mobile 7 correct they could well be on to a winner.

Finally the UI of Windows Mobile 7 will probably be the make or break aspect of the OS, Microsoft have to get it right. However I have less concerns with this than several other aspects of the OS. With Windows 7, the Zune software and Zune HD Microsoft showed in 2009 they can create great interfaces and interfaces for software and hardware which I hope will carry on in 2010 with more than just Windows Mobile 7.

Unfortunately there is just nothing known about Windows Mobile 7 but these are just my ideas on what Microsoft needs to do and I hope that Windows Mobile 7 is very competitive when it comes out. We should be hearing all about it next month at the Mobile World Congress and I am really looking forward to it.

Just bear in mind that if Google, on their first attempt at an operating system, can make a mobile OS which competes with the iPhone, in a little over a year, then there is certainly hope for Windows Mobile yet.