Windows Phone 7 Launch In ReviewWindows Phone 7 Launch In Review

Deploy CDMA, now! When WP7 devices go on sale later this year, they will only be available from AT&T and T-Mobile. That's too limiting. Microsoft need to get handsets into the hands of Sprint and Verizon Wireless customers, too, if it wants to have a shot at tackling Android. In short, handset makers need to develop CDMA-based WP7 phones. Fast.

Microsoft's Windows 7 Phone Revealed

Use 4G as a differentiator. It would have been great to see Microsoft come out of the gate with HSPA+, WiMax, and LTE hardware. It didn't. Microsoft should push its hardware and network operator partners to accelerate plans for 3.5G and 4G devices. If Microsoft and WP7 is seen as lacking here, it could hurt the platform.

Push for high-end devices. Despite the solid first efforts by Microsoft's hardware partners, none of the initial WP7 handsets is a category killer. It needs to push for a handset that is spec'd as well as -- if not better than -- the best of the competition. That means huge, high-rez screens, better cameras, faster processors, and extremely good battery life.

Court the enterprise. Businesses are adopting Apple's iPhone and Google's Android platforms at a rate that should worry Microsoft. One of the keys to WP7's success will be to get it in hands of business users. WP7 is already launching with a really good Microsoft Office story to sell to the enterprise. It needs to push beyond that and get developers excited about writing enterprise apps.

Microsoft has done well with the launch of Windows Phone 7. Most of the right pieces are in play, or are close to being in play. With everything nearly aligned as it should be, WP7 could be a great success.