Ready to roll
Microsoft has given the next major version of Windows Phone 7, codenamed Mango, the green light, having signed off on its 'released to manufacturing' (RTM) build. The arrival of Mango on handsets won't happen yet, but it's no longer Microsoft holding up the process.
The RTM status means that WP7 Mango now only requires manufacturers and network operators to complete their testing, to ensure that Mango doesn't have any problems with specific handsets or mobile-network configurations. Assuming there are no unforeseen issues, Mango should be ready in time for its promised arrival 'this fall.'
Mango includes a number of key features which bring it closer in line with the latest version of iOS and Android, including Threads, a unified interface for Facebook chat, SMS and instant messaging conversations (akin to iMessage in the next iPhone OS), app multitasking, which finally enables multiple applications to be run simultaneously, and Internet Explorer 9 - bringing the mobile-browsing abilities of WP7 up to scratch.
Although new WP7 handsets will come pre-installed with Mango, after its launch, older devices will be reliant on their respective manufacturers to provide updates, as Microsoft doesn't offer the ability for WP7 handset owners to install customised versions of its mobile operating system - unlike Google, which is happy for Android users to install customised versions of its OS (assuming handset makers don't lock devices themselves).
We would hope that with this reasonable lead-up to the 'fall' launch of Mango, handset manufactures will have plenty of time to ensure all of their WP7 devices are supported, ready for Mango's début.
