Windows Phone 7

Microsoft has completely overhauled its Windows Phone Dev Center and added some extra ways for developers to get paid.

The company today announced the changes in a blog post, saying that the site, which allows developers to do everything from submit applications to download software development kits, was completely rebuilt "from the ground up." The design itself comes with a healthy amount of white space and a streamlined, basic feel. According to Microsoft, the redesign aims "at providing faster access to common tasks."

For developers, however, the key additions come by way of availability and payments. … Read more

Roughly six months ago, Nokia announced a partnership with Groupon that would incorporate deals into its Nokia Maps apps for Nokia Lumia phones. Today, Nokia released a new version of Nokia Maps (2.5) that surfaces Groupon Now deals.

Groupon Now is the segment of Groupon's collective couponing company that advertises local, extremely limited-time offers. The integration with Nokia Maps uses GPS coordinates to surface nearby Groupon Now deals and help navigate you to them via car, foot, or public transport, in a single app. Nokia says you can also redeem the coupons using Nokia Maps.

In addition to … Read more

Nokia is considering trying something new to jumpstart its declining mobile business, according to a new report.

The mobile company is currently in talks with European carriers to sign an exclusive partnership for its upcoming Windows Phone 8-based device, the Financial Times is reporting today, citing sources. The deals could see Nokia's devices offered on fewer networks, and give carriers a piece of the revenue its handsets generate. The idea, according to the Financial Times, is for carriers to receive financial incentives to actively promote Nokia products.

If Nokia is indeed following such a strategy, it would mark a … Read more

Windows Phone is starting to gain some ground, but don't expect it to be an Android threat anytime soon.

New data released today by research firm Strategy Analytics indicates that Windows Phone will secure 4 percent of the U.S. smartphone market this year, up from the 3 percent it nabbed in 2011. The research firm says Microsoft's operating system will be running on 5 million smartphones sold in 2012, compared with 3.5 million last year.

"Nokia, HTC and Samsung have some of the biggest Microsoft smartphone portfolios at present and they will be three main … Read more

It was only a matter of time that AT&T drop the price of the Nokia Lumia 900 in a move that's great for consumers and perhaps not so good for Nokia.

Starting today, the Lumia 900 costs just $49.99 with a new two-year service agreement, down from its already-inexpensive $99.99 price tag when the smartphone first debuted in April.

The Lumia 900 has a terrific 4.3-inch screen, LTE speeds, and an 8-megapixel camera. It also runs Windows Phone 7.5, and like all other existing Windows phones, will not be upgradeable to Windows Phone 8 OS … Read more

Forget pretty in pink. How about fiery magenta for the color of your next Nokia phone? AT&T announced today that it will release a version of the Nokia Lumia 900 Windows phone in a bright "pink" shade, starting July 15.

The magenta Lumia 900 joins the black, cyan, and white versions of the phone. Customers will be able to buy the raspberry-colored handset online for $99.

The Lumia 900 will receive the Windows Phone 7.8 update -- which will include a new start screen and flip-to-silence -- as well as access to some Nokia extras … Read more

High-flying skydive stunts! Steering-wheel voice commands! Predictive search that knows your life! That was June for us, one big sneak peek of the mobile platform future, a flurry of OS features and software specs that Apple, Google, Microsoft, and RIM lobbed at us from San Francisco area events all in the same month. It was so busy around here, we CNETers dubbed the month "Junesanity."

The specs that emerged from these four events are a peek at the near future of mobile phones. In addition, the flashy presentations were designed to win developers and consumers to each company'… Read more

Is Microsoft bringing back the old days of one-thumb typing?

Microsoft-tracking blog WM Power User today published an image of what it claims, is a new keyboard being considered by Microsoft Research. The "one-handed and next-gen soft keyboard" will be designed for Windows Phone 8, according to the blog, and feature a curved design. That curve places the keys in such a way that makes it easier for users to type with a single thumb.

Since the implementation would provide less screen real estate for the keyboard, the image WM Power User published shows each button housing three … Read more

Back in January there was no question which carrier had built the best portfolio, and I'll give you a hint: it wasn't AT&T.

By December, Verizon already had an embarrassment of riches, and the toughest high-end Android decision for holiday shoppers was which Big Red phone to get: the angular Motorola Droid Razr, the HTC Rezound audio genius, or the world's first Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich phone, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. With the budget HTC Rhyme and the broadest LTE coverage in the nation, Verizon was on fire.

Verizon fueled its momentum with the astounding long-life Droid Razr Maxx just after Motorola introduced the handset at CES.

Yet in the past few months, Verizon's verve has begun to flicker just enough for AT&T to illuminate its renewed vigor. Now before flinging your biting anti-AT&T protests my way, hear me out.… Read more