When Windows Phone 7 first hit the headlines it made a real impact and was hailed – in some quarters – as the mobile app that could bury the iPhone. And some people were openly agreeing with this extraordinary idea.

However, this was before iPhone 4, iOS 4 and Android 2.2.

So, where does Windows Phone 7 stand now? Let’s take a look at the parts of the phone that everyone was getting excited about, and compare them to what’s out there in the market now.

Beautiful Mobile Apps?

At first glance, the Windows Phone 7 applications looked wonderful. Then along came the iPhone 4′s retina display, large screen Android phones and the Dell Streak. Unfortunately, the applications that Microsoft had showed us now appear dated, small, and not very high-res.

And as this phone was aspiring to be cutting edge, this was hardly the position that Microsoft wanted to be in.

Mobile Apps and Gaming

Windows Phone 7 was supposed to be a gaming machine. With the potential for full-on Xbox action everyone was getting very excited.

However, the verdict now is that Windows Phone 7 is actually holding back developers. It takes immense courage to develop for the new platform, and Microsoft seems determined not to make it easy. They are locking down the hardware and putting roadblocks in the developer’s way.

Clearly, this will limit the gaming capabilities of the phones as fewer people will bother developing for the platform.

Windows Phone 7 – Good for Business?

Windows Phone 7 contains several business-oriented features which make it a useful tool in the business environment. These features are no longer unique to the phone, but the combined package still makes for a good business tool.

• Office Applications – Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint in your pocket.
• SharePoint Integration – Collaborate on documents hosted on your corporate SharePoint server.
• Metro – A clean, easy to use interface.
• Writing Applications – The Windows 7 Development kit allows businesses to develop apps for their customers and to deploy secure internal use apps on their corporate networks.

Windows Phone 7 – Has it still got it?

When the phone was first launched, it was to be a new beginning for Microsoft and for mobile app development. Now Microsoft has no established brand in the market, a new platform with few applications, and two entrenched competitors.

The phone is a good business tool, but if Microsoft wanted to break into the big leagues and regain their former prestige with their Windows 7 Series phones, this phone will not deliver this.

Windows Phone 7 had it, briefly. But it already looks like it’s been left behind.

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Consider a world where more and more people are publishing more and more social objects – essays, music, video, blogs – and sharing them online. And consider the new kind of search opportunity that this data deluge has created.

Imagine a world where your customer has complete control of their television viewing. Where they are able to explore and personalise their programming from a vast array of devices.

And then imagine how TV software solutions would set your business apart from your competitors.

Internet content and distribution changes

In this ‘data deluged’ world, we have users who are bombarded with information, yet starved of time; users who are desperate to interact with the social objects that are relevant and personal to them. What kind of search solutions are they looking for?

Well, if someone can discover the ‘Dolby of the web’ — remove all that noise and give us clear sound — then they are going to make a lot of money.

The prototypes are out there, but the definitive solution is still waiting to be discovered.

Seeking solutions to this type of conundrum is what really motivates the team at ArdentiSys.

Software solutions to benefit your customer

Providers within the media industry continue to battle to be the gateway to home entertainment, and personalised TV is becoming the key service differentiator – and the pathway to TV user’s “clear sound”.

Users can now build their own schedules by using “personalisation platforms”; platforms that allow users to personalise their programming according to topics, specific shows, channel, interfaces or recent activity – enabling them to quickly build a profile that matches their viewing preferences.

We are talking about platforms which promote content that is both contextually and personally relevant to end users.

TV software solutions to benefit your business

Importantly, end-to-end search and recommendation engine solutions will help to increase the time viewers spend consuming Pay-TV and On-Demand services; maintaining the relevance of your business as the primary entertainment provider in their home. And the reciprocal benefits to your business’ revenue streams as a result of this additional consumption should not be overlooked.

You will also be able to differentiate your services from other operators by providing a more specialised and personalised content discovery service.

Inevitably, this should lead to higher customer acquisition and reductions in churn, as well as increased advertising revenue opportunities.

Moreover, by offering these innovative, new options to your customers you will be providing services that will keep them coming back – and wanting more.

Working to find the best content distribution solutions

At ArdentiSys we will work closely with you to find a world class solution which aligns with the journey towards “clear sound”, your target customer profile, your existing technology – and your budget.
And in the same way that content discovery solutions should be modular, so are the services that ArdentiSys offer.

We provide a range of outsourced software solutions to suit a broad range and scale of businesses. Moreover, we offer a breadth of trusted services from which your business can select:

• Offshore development facilities and resource
• Product Development and Support
• Custom Development and Support
• Design… delivering simple, engaging, intuitive, user-friendly solutions

Ardent iSys have already established themselves in technology arena – hence we already have a dedicated team of experienced developers for you to call upon.

Be ahead of your competition; not trailing in their wake – call us now on 0845 094 0433 and take the first step to discovering the future of content distribution.