Windows Phone 7 Gaming Preview

Windows Phone 7 - the gamers' phone? UPDATED

WP7 is nearly here, and one of its most anticipated features - integration with Xbox Live, has finally been unveiled. In a style which we are beginning to recognise as Windows Phone 7, the interface is smooth and intuitive, the display uncluttered and the controls appear accurate and responsive.

Take a look for yourself:

If you think back to the dawn of smart phones there was the Blackberry, the sign of the busy businessman eternally emailing. Then there was the iPhone, which offered the functionality of a music player alongside that of a phone, and finally a usable mobile internet solution.

Smart phones have become more and more similar, trying to appeal to the business and the leisure user alike. Android and Windows Mobile both bridge the work/life gap, but offered nothing new. Maybe Windows Phone 7 is about to revolutionise the mobile market? Failing that I'm sure I can think of a lot of gamers who would like a 'portable' version of the Xbox. Perhaps Sony missed a trick with the PSPhone?

UPDATE: Reports today (13th September) suggest that Microsoft may be releasing Windows Phone 7 without native language support for Xbox and Zune (Engadget). We hope that they take the extra time in ensuring that this feature is ready for release in the appropriate languages or this is a real disadvantage. Xbox integration is the real USP for many considering a Windows Phone 7, and it would be a real shame if this was not available in all languages.