02/28, 9:30am
Nokia Lumia phones will debut secure messaging app
Good Technology has unveiled a new version of its Good for Enterprise secure messaging platform. The new version provides secured, encrypted mobile messaging and access for corporate email, contacts, and calendars through on Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango). The software will interoperate with Good's FIPS-certified 192 bit AES encryption. Nokia's Lumia 710, Lumia 800 and Lumia 900 will be the first Windows Phone devices certified for the Good for Technology app.
more
11/27, 2:50pm
Windows Phone 7 Connector updates for 7.5
Mac users running Windows Phones received a major update to Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac (Mac App Store) this weekend to better accommodate Windows Phone 7.5 phones like the Focus Flash. The new update now lets users transfer the custom ringtones enabled by the OS update and also links up with Windows Phone Marketplace. Pro photographers can now sync with Aperture instead of just iPhoto.
more
11/18, 5:25pm
Twitter update adds Mango compatibility & Japanese
Twitter has updated is app for Windows Phone. The software, used to share photos and to broadcast brief status messages, is now compatible with Windows Phone 7.5 (free, Marketplace). The instant messaging app ICQ is also being launched in its first Windows Phone version.
more
10/31, 7:30pm
New release, 2.2, now supports Mango
Facebook has released a new version of its app for Windows Phone 7 owners. The new release 2.2 (free, Marketplace) incorporates features native to Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango). Among them are the ability to pin specific app features to the home screen, leaping to a specific part of the app.
more
10/29, 5:00pm
Lenovo S2 to take Chinese Windows Phones past ZTE
Lenovo should help expand Windows Phone's Asian footprint beyond ZTE if photos are accurate. Identified only as the S2 at winphonexap, it superficially resembles the rounded look of the Samsung Focus. A conspicuous front camera and branding make it clear that it's unique.
more
10/28, 3:20pm
ATT prices and dates first Windows Phones
AT&T on Friday posted launch details for its first two Windows Phone 7.5 devices. Both the Samsung Focus S and Focus Flash will arrive in the carrier's stores on November 6, just a day ahead of a New York City event. The phones will try to cover the full spread of smartphones from the start, beginning at $50 on a contract with the entry Focus Flash and moving up to $200 for the higher-end Focus S.
more
10/26, 4:20pm
Tango app to beat Skype to Windows Phone video
Tango said Wednesday that its Windows Phone app would go live November 7. The release is timed to have the app ready in time for the first US Windows Phones, which should include the Focus S, Focus Flash, and Titan on AT&T. HTC and others should have Tango already installed given its existence on the Radar and Titan.
more
10/24, 1:05pm
HTC Radar 4G dated and priced
T-Mobile on Monday put out a hard ship date and price for the HTC Radar 4G. Its first Windows Phone 7.5 hardware ships on November 2. The full-touch phone costs $100, albeit only after a $50 mail-in rebate.
more
10/21, 11:40am
Windows Phone may stay year behind in speed
Windows Phone might repeat history and go without competitive high-end features until Windows Phone 8, according to a pair of tips. Historically accurate MS_Nerd claims that Apollo, WP8's codename, will add a Chassis 3 spec that brings the dual-core processors that Android and iPhone users already have. It should also bring 720p Retina Display-like screens, putting them just on par with the Galaxy Nexus and a handful of other phones arriving soon.
more
10/19, 11:35pm
Microsoft shows ATT Windows Phones
Microsoft's Andy Lees used the AsiaD conference to show off the finished versions of AT&T's Windows Phone 7.5 roster. Its headliner and completely new model, the Focus S, looks like what Electronista and others saw before with the same 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen and 8.6mm profile as the Galaxy S II, just with a 1.4GHz single-core Snapdragon and a 1.3-megapixel front camera instead of the two of the Android phone. The phone won't necessarily perform slower in practice due to WP7's light demand.
more
10/19, 6:55pm
Windows Phone 7.5 nearly rolled out in full
Microsoft's Eric Hautala said that his company's stepped up Windows Phone 7.5 updates were now virtually done. The company had good enough results that it was "opening the spigot" and that almost all of the user base would have the update. The only ones left were those with specific issues, such as some Orange subscribers.
more
10/13, 6:50am
Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) launches in India
Microsoft has held a formal event to launch a trio of Windows Phone 7 Mango handsets in India. The launch was held at the Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi on Wednesday, where Microsoft India chairman Bhaskar Pramanik announced the impending arrival of the HTC Radar, Samsung Omnia W and the Acer Allegro. The first of the three to land on the Indian market will be HTC’s Radar, which arrives next week.
more
10/11, 3:25pm
Joins iOS and Android phones with GPS app
Navigon, the newly-bought German branch of Garmin, has unveiled a satellite navigation app for Windows Phones. The app, which provides turn-by-turn navigation with text-to-speech, will run on the latest version of Windows Phone, 7.5 (Mango). The app is available now for the European market (€60, Windows Marketplace) and will be available for the US on November 15 ($30, Windows Marketplace).
more
10/10, 8:50pm
HTC HD7S to finally get update to Mango
An internal staff memo slipped out to WinRumors Monday has pointed to the HTC HD7S getting its hoped for Windows Phone 7.5 update soon. As of Tuesday, AT&T and Microsoft will start rolling out the OS upgrade on a gradual basis. The revamp is showing up in "controlled batch" amounts to make sure there aren't any problems.
more
10/07, 2:05pm
LG Optimus 7 phone targets high-end users
LG has partnered with German fashion house
Jil Sander to create a designer smartphone. The Jil Sander Mobile phone is a variant of LG's Optimus 7. The phone is more up to date, howver, and already runs Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango).
more
10/05, 7:00pm
CDMA phone may soon hit Sprint or Verizon
The elusive LG Fantasy may soon be coming to the US. A CDMA-based handset, bearing the model number LS831, has just been submitted by LG to the FCC in preparation for launch. Pocketnow speculates that the LS831 is actually the Fantasy, news of which first leaked out in July.
more
10/03, 6:05pm
Windows Phone Mango update rate accelerates
Microsoft's Eric Hautala in a follow-up promised a much faster upgrade track for Windows Phone 7.5 updates. The successful updates "look so good" that the company has immediately updated the number of devices that qualify from just 10 percent to 50 percent. The eligibility should take effect immediately.
more
09/29, 6:10pm
Nokia Sabre and Sea Ray given away by Microsoft
Microsoft inadvertently spoiled plans for not one but two Nokia phones through a Canadian contest entry (since changed). A Windows Phone 7.5 App Challenge offered the winner one of four Windows Phones going by their codenames, including the Nokia Sea Ray and a previous uncorroborated second model, the Sabre. The second phone is expected to be a smaller, slightly lower end phone with a 3.7-inch screen and the need for a micro SIM card.
more
09/27, 10:05pm
Windows Phone Mango fixes location controls
An investigation into Windows Phone 7.5's code by ChevonWP7 jailbreaker Rafael Rivera has revealed that the update no longer sends location info without permission. The finished version hitting phones now behaves as Microsoft originally testified it did to Congress, where it asks first before the camera or another app is allowed to get the position. It had asked for permission before, but only after sending some location information first.
more
09/27, 2:00pm
HTC Radar 4G confirmed for T-Mobile this fall
T-Mobile's US branch confirmed its version of the HTC Radar. Here called the Radar 4G, it will be T-Mobile's only Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) phone known so far. Apart from running at 14.4Mbps on the network, its core difference will be the addition of T-Mobile's preferred apps, including T-Mobile TV streaming and Slacker Radio.
more
09/27, 1:45pm
Microsoft details speed of WP7 Mango rollout
Microsoft in a follow-up post outlined the speed at which its Windows Phone 7.5 Mango rollout would take place. In an attempt to keep quality in check, only about 10 percent of users will get the update pushed out in the first week. That could expand to 25 percent later if everything went well, Microsoft's Eric Hautala said.
more
09/27, 9:40am
Update brings multitasking, IE9, HTML5, Twitter
Instructions for installing a software update have been posted to the support page for the HTC Arrive on the Sprint website. Although it is not referred to by name, the timing and list of features indicate that this is the widely-anticipated Mango update for Windows Phone 7 devices. Features listed on the support page that point to Mango include multitasking, an IE9-based web engine with HTML5 support, and Twitter integration.
more
09/27, 9:30am
Windows Phone Mango hitting most phones very soon
Microsoft has updated its Where's my phone update page to reveal that most American Windows Phone devices are getting the 7.5, or Mango, update very soon. Along with AT&T's promises, every carrier-bound and unlocked phone outside of Sprint is "scheduling," or due to get the update in under 10 business days. Sprint is marked as "testing," although it's known to have already posted the HTC Arrive's update for manual upgrades.
more
09/27, 8:50am
Features one-click purchasing, social networking
Windows Phone Web Marketplace is now live in the US and Germany. Windows Phone Web Marketplace is also linked from search results in Bing. A one-click purchase feature in Web Marketplace allows users to pay for apps with the credit card information stored in their Windows Live ID. The new app portal will send a link to a Windows Phone 7 device by SMS or email to make installing apps easier. Windows Phone Web Marketplace will also have social networking buttons for each app to allow users to share and rate apps.
more
09/26, 8:25am
Samsung outs Omnia W, second-gen WP7 device
Samsung has officially launched the Omnia W, its first Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) smartphone. The device centers on a 3.7-inch Super AMOLED display with an 800x480 resolution. It is powered by a 1.4GHz processor matched with 512MB of RAM. It also incorporates some Samsung-only touches, including access to an e-book client.
more
09/25, 1:35pm
App Highlights becomes first Nokia WP7 title
Nokia signalled that it was getting close to its first Windows Phone hardware by quietly posting its first official software. App Highlights (Zune link), a portal that curates Nokia's picks for local and worldwide apps, has been posted to the store this week without the option of an actual download. It may be written specifically to support the Mango update as it will post news of updates on the home screen, relfecting Mango's better support of home tiles.
more
09/23, 8:40am
AT&T to roll out WP& Mango from September 27
AT&T is expected to begin the long awaited Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) update to users starting September 27. The devices set to get the update are the HTC Surround, LG Quantum and the Samsung Focus. However, users of the HTC HD7 will have to wait until mid-October for their update.
more
09/22, 2:40pm
T-Mobile and Cincinnati Bell Pros also get Mango
Dell announced on Thursday that the first of its Windows Phone 7 devices to get the Mango update will be the unlocked Venue Pro smartphone. Those in the US, India, Europe, the Middle East and Africa with the handset can expect the update to roll out sometime this fall. Owners of the handset locked to T-Mobile and Cincinnati Bell Wireless will also get the new code.
more
09/21, 2:10pm
Windows Phones to get Mango patch in week or two
Microsoft's Eric Hautala told Windows Phone owners that the Mango update was finally near rolling out to existing devices. The 7.5 upgrade should arrive in the "next week or two" on the first wave. As with the NoDo update early in the year, Microsoft will have a status page showing how far into testing each release is and how soon it will arrive.
more
09/20, 4:50pm
Updates to v7 apps to be supported in October
Ahead of the full Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' rollout, Microsoft is still encouraging developers to submit apps for the latest version of the mobile platform. In a blog post, Microsoft's senior director of the Windows Phone Marketplace, Todd Brix, admits that some developers have already complained about potential problems with the upgrade, which require separate app releases for the v7.0 and v7.5 editions.
more
09/17, 1:05pm
Samsung Focus S cleared by FCC
Samsung gave clues that the Focus S was close to launch on Friday after it passed through an FCC approval. Going under its i937 name, it has the expected AT&T 3G frequencies and matches up with the design that Microsoft itself teased earlier in the year. The wireless-focused test also confirms the existences of 5GHz 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
more
09/15, 5:45pm
Retailer to offer phones as exclusives
HTC's Radar and
Sensation XE will be hitting UK shelves on October 1. Retailer Phones4u is boasting that it will be the first in Britain to be offering the smartphones. The Sensation XE is an update to HTC's popular Sensation smartphone, which the company hopes will compete effectively against Apple's forthcoming iPhone 5.
more
09/14, 11:45pm
Microsoft CEO disappointed with year-one WP7 sales
Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer during the company's Financial Analyst Meeting acknowledged that Windows Phone 7 still wasn't performing well. Treating it as a first-year wrap up, he said Microsoft phone partners hadn't sold "quite as many as I would have liked" between its October release and today. He didn't quantify the numbers, but shipments have been flat and have led to steady losses in market share.
more
09/12, 10:25am
ATT intros Samsung Focus S, Focus Flash, HTC Titan
AT&T revisited Windows Phone on Monday with details of a widened Windows Phone strategy for the fall in sync with the Mango update. The launch will be headlined by the Focus S, better known so far as the i937; the device is effectively a slightly slower Galaxy S II and shares its 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen along with the very thin 8.6mm (0.34-inch) profile. It drops to a single-core 1.4GHz Snapdragon and has both an eight-megapixel rear camera and a 1.3-megapixel front camera.
more
09/08, 4:25pm
Microsoft Taiwan page to bring Mango news Friday
A Microsoft Taiwan mini-site devoted to the release of Windows Phone Mango update is showing off a September 9 date. Whether this means the actual update is due tomorrow or just when the site will go live remains to be seen. It's more likely this will be just information related to the software update, as other rumors hint the updated OS won't go live until closer to the end of September or in October.
more
09/06, 10:35am
Still no official word on timing of Mango update
Amateur coders have posted an unofficial ROM of the upcoming Windows Phone "Mango" update for European HTC Mozart users. The OS update has been finished since late July, and leaked in early August. The new ROM is the first version that contains hardware-specific firmware and manufacturer customizations.
more
09/01, 2:55pm
HTC Radar and Titan official
HTC launched itself back into Windows Phone support at its special event Thursday with two new models. Topping the group, the Titan (once codenamed the Eternity) is the biggest Windows Phone ever and has a 4.7-inch (albeit 480x800) touchscreen in a relatively slim 0.39-inch unibody frame. It confirms front camera support in the Mango update to the OS and has both a 1.3-megapixel front camera along with the rear eight-megapixel piece.
more
08/31, 9:10am
WP7 Connector Mac gets Mango, Aperture sync
Microsoft on Wednesday posted a 2.0 overhaul to Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac (free, Mac App Store). The update arrives just in time to support the first wave of Mango phones. Among the additions for the new mobile OS are the ability to visit the Windows Phone Marketplace for these devices and to transfer custom ringtones.
more
08/29, 8:20am
HTC Omega, WP7 Mango handset up for bids
The forthcoming and yet to be announced HTC Omega has been spotted live in on Algerian auction site. The Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) handset was originally listed for $370, but has since been bid up to over $500. HTC is expected to officially unveil the device on September 1 in Europe; the phone up for auction is running an Orange ROM and is the French language, indicating that it might be one of the first carriers to stock the handset.
more
08/25, 7:55pm
Device resembles Flyer design
Corroborating recent rumors, leaked photos allegedly show HTC's unannounced Omega handset. The press renderings, which were posted by Pocketnow, suggest the Windows Phone 7 device will be built with a white and silver color scheme, offering a similar appearance to the company's Android-based Flyer tablet.
more
08/25, 8:35am
Microsoft says Mango has front camera support
Ending exploration and other speculation, Microsoft during a Tech Ed New Zealand session Thursday confirmed that Windows Phone 7 Mango has front camera support. While it had been suspected given digs into the SDK and very early reference hardware, it will now be available to any device that has the option. Microsoft's buyout of Skype will also pay off quickly as the WP7 app will support the front camera for video chat, the company said.
more
08/24, 11:05pm
WP7 Mango has carrier-enabled Internet sharing
Microsoft might have more hidden in its plans for Windows Phone 7 Mango with a discovery late Wednesday that it has a hidden mobile hotspot feature. While not exposed for everyone, and possibly no one officially, an Internet sharing section lets users share a 3G or 4G link over Wi-Fi for up to five people, much like Android, iPhones, and BlackBerry 7 devices. The code is in at least the gold master build (7720.68) and could exist on all production Windows phones.
more
08/23, 7:50pm
Platform revamped for Windows Phone update
Microsoft has released an updated version of its Zune software that works as a companion utility for Windows Phone handsets and the company's media players. Version 4.8 is mostly focused on under-the-hood changes that bring support for the upcoming Windows Phone update, known as Mango. Users that have not kept up to date with their WP7 software will only need to click the update button once to install multiple updates.
more
08/23, 5:55pm
Needs more 3rd party apps to attract buyers
Microsoft is now ready to accept apps from developers for its upcoming Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) release. The company has let developers know through an update on its developer blog that the system for submitting apps is now up and running. Accordingly, a release candidate SDK download is available so that programmers can compile their apps to adapt to the final version of Mango and test it to make sure it works.
more
08/23, 5:40pm
ATT roadmap for fall 2011 tips up
An AT&T roadmap surfacing Tuesday has given clues as to the network's non-iPhone launch strategy for the late summer and fall. Along with known quantities like the Torch 9860, it shows at least two Windows Phone 7 Mango devices. One fall release, the "Kupua," is Samsung's i937, is believed to mostly be a take on the Galaxy S II using Microsoft's OS. The other seen by PocketNow, the HTC "Bunyip," is most likely the Eternity 4.7-inch flagship.
more
08/23, 10:05am
Toshiba-Fujitsu IS12T ships early
KDDI confirmed talk an early ship date and moved up the launch of the Toshiba-Fujitsu IS12T to a month earlier. The very first Windows Phone 7 Mango phone should be in Japan on August 25. It's expected to sit at about $253 on contract.
more
08/22, 2:15pm
HTC to show Windows Phone Mango devices at event
The nearing September 1 event from HTC will focus on the unveiling of several new Windows Phone Mango devices, BGR heard. A source said the unveils will include the HTC Eternity, with as much as a 4.7-inch display and due at AT&T, as well as the T-Mobile-bound HTC Omega, with a 4.5-inch screen. Cases for either were spotted about a month ago.
more
08/20, 5:30pm
Windows Phone Mango may come in August with IS12T
The first Windows Phone 7 Mango device, Toshiba-Fujitsu's IS12T, may arrive earlier even than what Microsoft has suggested. Both a KDDI Au listing and retail shop sightings (pictured) have the IS12T being ready on August 25, as much as a month ahead of schedule. In addition to spotting the phone's details, Nanapho in a follow-up has also shown that it might cost a steep 73,500 yen ($960) off-contract after tax, although it may dip down to $253 on regular terms.
more
08/19, 3:50pm
Microsoft says Mango waiting only on hardware
Microsoft's Nordic mobile leader Peter Wissinger revealed that phone makers now had Windows Phone 7's Mango update was now contingent only on others. While the firm had already said it was finished early, Wissinger said that it was now only "up to our manufacturing partners" to actually ship their devices. He wouldn't say when that was.
more
08/19, 9:05am
HP teases September 1 event in London
HTC on Friday posted an open invitation to the public for a special event on September 1. The London gathering would give fans and the media alike a chance to "see what's next." No clues were given as to what the device roster would be.
more
