SoLoMobile

Back from Barcelona, here are some of the most outstanding facts/trends to share:

• major event: the announcement of Windows Phone Series 7: the interface seems (almost?) as user-friendly as the i-Phone’s, all Windows services are integrated and interacting dynamically: Office documents, games (x-box), Bing, geolocalisation with localised services with hyper-links, social networks, automatical synchronisation via wi-fi (photos), etc…
• the winner: Android. It’s already available on many platforms, HTC, Motorola, Sony-Ericsson, with a user-interface that has nothing to envy to the i-Phone.
• The OS war: Samsung’s Bada, Windows Phone and Android are seriously catching up Apple.
• The agreement between 15 carriers to create a common app platform will (aims at) isolate Apple

The smartphone is becoming the “standard”

• OS touchscreens for netbooks
• the fragmentation goes on. For Sosoftware this means that we still have to develop on several OS
• The number of companies developing applications for mobile phones has pretty much increased. As an example, about 80% of BlackBerry’s booth was represented by applications companies. Many value propositions of companies gravitating around mobile solutions.

the notable absence of Apple and Nokia, who didn’t announce anything (new!).

For Sosoftware, the result is very positive, in terms of new developments projects, be they as new services addition, as new strong commercial partnerships to develop new markets or as development resources.

In a more general way, the context of Barcelona is so gorgeous, that it makes the experience worth the travel. Some tapas at night, some fresh “zumo de naranjas” in the morning, and life is beautiful!

To end it up, here are a couple of pictures and a video showcasing the new Windows Phone Live, to give you a quick idea of the #MWC’s feeling:

Here an article with a thorough analysis of the key trends coming out of the #MWC 2010