More Windows Phone 7.5 features leak, Facebook chat built-in

By Tom Warren, on 15th May 11 8:45 pm with 46 Comments

Additional Windows Phone 7.5 features leaked on Sunday.

Ryan and Travis Lowdermilk from the Windows Phone Dev Podcast revealed some new features from “Mango” on Sunday. Mango, known to be Windows Phone 7.5, will include Bing Audio/Video, SMS dictation, podcast support and turn-by-turn navigation and more. Here’s the latest new features:

Windows Live Messenger, Facebook Chat and AOL messenger integration

Microsoft will integrate Windows Live Messenger, Facebook Chat and AOL instant messenger into the messaging hub of Windows Phone 7.5. The people hub will show Windows Phone 7.5 users which services they are currently logged into. Microsoft is expected to auto-sense the best connection and service to send messages. The software giant is also including “group” messaging to allow users to create a set of contacts to send messages to.

Windows Phone 7.5 messaging

Office Hub improvements

Integrated SkyDrive and Office 365 will be included in Windows Phone 7.5. Microsoft is rumored to be building support for editing documents with Internet Explorer 9 mobile.

Office Hub improvements

Settings changes and Xbox LIVE improvements

Microsoft is building in artist art on the lockscreen that is customisable for users. The lockscreen will display album art when a song is playing. Microsoft is also building in greater Xbox LIVE support. Microsoft is rumored to be building a Sync option for users to sync games and their settings over its cloud network. The software giant is also expected to create special Xbox LIVE Gold and Silver versions for Windows Phone users.

Windows Phone 7.5 settings improvements

The podcast also unveiled that Visual Voicemail support is coming and will use the Open Mobile Terminal Platform (OMTP), the same as Android and iOS. Microsoft is also building better battery management that will include a new battery setting menu item. Microsoft is also building in better Network Awareness features for Wi-Fi hotspots. The software giant is building Network Connectivity Status Indicator (NCSI) which is currently part of Windows 7. The feature allows the operating system to collect network connectivity information and filter networks to pick the best one for certain tasks.

Microsoft is currently hard at work on “Mango”, its next major release of Windows Phone. Microsoft has promised to ship “Mango” later in the year. “Mango” is currently in the beta stages at Microsoft, built as 7.1 currently. The company revealed a number of new features in February that will ship as part of its Windows Phone point release later this year. Nokia is also reportedly waiting for the next release of Windows Phone before it unveils its first Windows Phone device.

“Mango” currently contains multitasking, Internet Explorer 9 mobile and Twitter integration. Microsoft unveiled a number of key developer enhancements at its MIX11 conference earlier this month. Developers will have access to the Motion Sensor library and the camera, enabling augmented reality experiences. Phone integration has also been greatly improved for developers wanting to do more with their apps. The Live Tiles functionality has been expanded to give developers more flexibility and engage with their customers better. Microsoft is also planning to expand on developer opportunities for Windows Phone. The company will expand its Marketplace to 35 countries soon.

Microsoft will preview its new consumer Windows Phone 7.5 features on May 24.

GP007

Mango looks better and better, it seems to me that MS is not only going to ”catch up” to the other guys but also “overtake” them in a few key areas.
- http://twitter.com/zeduffman what
  
  Every platform has to have a selling point, otherwise they won’t sell anything.
- Msisdying
  
  MS’s selling it point is that even if they do finish Mango by year end (doubtful), it’ll take them another six months to send it out in updates.
- http://www.twitter.com/wixostrix WixosTrix
  
  I don’t expect the same issues with this update as we saw with the last update. There were specific issues Microsoft wasn’t expecting: Samsung shipping devices with configurations MS wasn’t aware of, carriers taking forever to test. I’m sure they are going to try to steamline it much better.
- Msisdying
  
  MS’s selling it point is that even if they do finish Mango by year end (doubtful), it’ll take them another six months to send it out in updates.
http://twitter.com/starksmon Stark

Awesome. Go Microsoft!
Vander09

This is greattttt!!!! I luv WP!!! I just hope they get it out to us ASAP!
http://unhub.com/eingoluq Eingoluq

Gold and Silver… Like hell I’m gonna be paying for gold to get real time multi-player. That should be free.
If that happens I’m getting an android device with free psn.
I knew this would happen.
- Anonymous
  
  Some people like paying for quality. That is especially accurate after these PSN disasters. Hope you don’t attach a creditcard to your “free” service, unless you plan to get it stolen by online hackers.
- http://unhub.com/eingoluq Eingoluq
  
  I dont mind paying for gold for my 360. but not for my phone. I already have a bill thank you.
- Anonymous
  
  If you have Gold on your 360 it’ll probably transfer over to your phone as long as you’re using the same account.
- http://unhub.com/eingoluq Eingoluq
  
  And what about the guy who doesn’t? Or I get rid of mine?
  Still not for a phone
- Anonymous
  
  It is amazing that in light of the PSN disaster people are still nuts enough to believe that such services should, or even realistically can be, free. As for Android – the gaming is terrible so far – even the supposed upgrade of Playstation Suite is going to be Playstation One games. ie, “nothing anyone would pay for”
- http://twitter.com/Wheezle211 Wheezle
  
  Get lost. Free gaming networks have existed long before Xbox Live was a glimmer in Microsoft’s eye. There is absolutely zero reason I should have to pay a fee just to be able to play peer-to-peer/non-dedicated server multiplayer games. Particularly when we’re talking about mobile games. I don’t see Apple trying to charge a fee for their version.
  
  Don’t try to use PSN’s failure of security to justify to yourself the fact you’re paying an unnecessary fee.
- GP007
  
  Where is the info that they’ll charge you for gold on the phone? I haven’t heard any news of that sort.
- http://unhub.com/eingoluq Eingoluq
  
  It must be, cause if both gold and silver are free, who would pick silver?
- Morgan Wisbey
  
  I know it’s not clear but I assume that if you have Gold on your account then it will transfer automatically to your phone. I just cant see them splitting your account and having it gold on one device and not on the other.
- Anonymous
  
  From my understanding, I thought it was some extra features that people who pay for Xbox Live Gold get.
- Anonymous
  
  This. Microsoft needs to get rid of XBL Gold. The 360 is bound to get Skype by fall and I bet it’s going to be behind a XBL Gold subscription. Right now, I can’t even use Windows Live Messenger to do video on my 360 without having to pay for a Gold membership. It’s free on the PC but I must pay to do it on my 360. This feature should be promoted everywhere and free for silver user. Microsoft has good stuff but sometimes they can fail hard.
- Anonymous
  
  yeah because without psn or xbl, the phone is useless.
Anonymous

Wow OK thats kinda crazy when you think about it dude. Wow.

http://www.anon-toolz.se.tc
Matt

I have a Focus, but gave it up for the iPhone 4. Not because of WP7, but the hardware. I’d still be using WP7 today if the hardware “felt” better. In fact, I miss the OS, but not enough to use that hardware.
- http://about.me/abhinavk Abhinav Kumar
  
  I’m waiting for the Nokia WPs.
  Great software + Great Hardware = Bliss.
- Narcosleepy
  
  I agree. I was really looking forward to WP7, but the only decent phone at the time (for me anyhow) was the Focus. It felt “cheap” in my hands, so I will be waiting for something else. I will probably get a HD7 when it comes to AT&Crap, although I am not completely pleased with that either.
http://twitter.com/ondraster Ondra Moravek

Will they even have enough time at the 24th May (8 days left!) to speak about all the features? Wow!
- GP007
  
  How long is the event going to be? All day? 2 hours? I think if they stick to talking about new stuff they haven’t yet, i.e. no multitasking talk, we know about that already, then they’ll have time.
batmanoz

Be nice if they can also include phone call logs (time of call is there but need length of call) plus incoming/outgoing/missed sorting. Also tasks & notes syncing with Exchange/Outlook which I really miss.
I really like my WinPhone7 HTC Mozart - looking forward to “Mango’ing” it too
Anonymous

I’m just hoping that there won’t be a wait for this update. I’ve got an Omnia 7 on Optus here in Australia, and I’ve yet to receive the NoDo update!
Crobinson850

What makes you think that AIM is coming in Mango? I see Windows Live and Facebook, but nothing about AIM.
- Anonymous
  
  Well, if they did AIM they would be able to sneak into the Google Talk network aswell since AIM and Google recently partnered.
- Anonymous
  
  it was mentioned in the podcast.
- http://twitter.com/starksmon Stark
  
  Why would they need to sneak in? If other multi-platform chat clients can do it, why not Microsoft?
- Anonymous
  
  Well looking at Googles actions lately it looks as if they’re the kid that all of a sudden don’t want to share with the rest of the kids.
- Anonymous
  
  It is often a licensing issue, so, MS can’t just go ahead and integrate 3rd party technologies and services.
- http://twitter.com/starksmon Stark
  
  From Wikipedia:
  
  Instant messaging between the Google Talk servers and its clients uses an open protocol, XMPP, allowing users of other XMPP/Jabber clients to communicate with Google Talk users.
  
  I know it can’t be just named Google Talk, but you don’t need to sneak in via AIM.
Anonymous

You have to question the overall usability of an operating system that cuts half the words off it displays. What first-year art school student came up with that brilliant idea?
- Anonymous
  
  wow… none has to question that if that someone has used the OS… maybe you should try it and stop being ignorant about it like just because you question something silly, people have to question the same… like i said, maybe you should try it or go to other choices like android or iphone, if icones and that stuff have *brilliant design*
- Anonymous
  
  Well,
  Not so! Already in the Marketplace it is a real problem since you often can’t even read the titles / names of the apps. That continues throughout the phone.
  
  Even though it might look very ‘eye-candy’, it reduces functionality of the phone.
- Anonymous
  
  well… i made my sister get a wp7, and before i used it with the emulator. and in both emulator and the phone itself, it was perfectly fine… of course maybe some applications might not use correct the wp7 ui, but always i use my sisters phone its perfectly fine, i can read everything and stuff. BUT like i said… if someone hasn’t used the phone, maybe they are just judging before trying, But maybe they tried it and they didn’t like it, or maybe they thought they wouldn’t like it and they liked it in the end. its matter of taste of every person. my sister is happy with her phone even when she could buy a cheaper one, she spent $400+ on it. and she doesn’t seem to have any UI problem. she likes it and she likes the metro ui. and even she uses it alot, and it doesn’t seem to reduce any functionality for her. but thats her, maybe you or someone else just dont like it, or find better icons, but “question” overall functionality like the someone above said, just for UI. thats sounds silly, or “What first-year art school student came up with that brilliant idea?”. just because that person doesn’t like the UI, it doesn’t mean its not a good UI like most people who have used it think.
- Anonymous
  
  Well,
  Not so! Already in the Marketplace it is a real problem since you often can’t even read the titles / names of the apps. That continues throughout the phone.
  
  Even though it might look very ‘eye-candy’, it reduces functionality of the phone.
- Red
  
  Based on “What first-year art school student came up with that brilliant idea?” I assume you have no expirience with User Interface design, oder design in general, at all?
Jimmy2shoes

Sounds awesome… Now I’m just wondering why my Facebook integrated photos aren’t showing up in the pictures area :-/
Denender

For Daily Facebook News All Over The Internet In One Place Visit:http://www.facebooknews-lovely.blogspot.com
Onyx

What about Smart Dj for the WP7? then I can really ditch my zune hd
http://twitter.com/MikeInBA mike g

Does it have video MMS yet? How about video uploading to youtube or fb?
Billiondollaboi

IT IS ABOUT TIME MICROSOFT PUT THERE BIG BOY PANTS BACK ON!!!! HOW DID YOU START AS A INNOVATOR AND BE SURPASSED BY EVERY TECH COMPANY NEW AND ESTABLISHED. IT’S NOT LIKE THEY DO NOT EMPLOY SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST. MAYBE MICROSOFT IS POISED TO TAKE THE LEAD INTO 2012

WinRumors

Microsoft news and rumors

More Windows Phone 7.5 features leak, Facebook chat built-in