*Disclosure* I worked at Microsoft, but have zero insider knowledge on the features announced today for Windows Phone 7. I don’t know how they work, I’ve never seen them demoed or in any PPT. If you’re looking for a leak, look elsewhere. My commentary on any features is purely speculative and done as a consumer of said product, and where I see each product going. The only insight from my time at Microsoft is tied back to the challenges of working cross orgs.

My thoughts on Microsoft Culture and WP7

From my time at Microsoft I saw huge challenges in taking on projects that crossed over multiple stakeholder groups. This was actually an area in which I really excelled in, but always questioned how well the company did on this.

Well today I woke up to a surprise, a very pleasant surprise….. Windows Mobile Phone 7. I worked in an org. pretty close to MCB (Mobile Communications Business), we had a lot of the same ideas of leveraging Microsoft properties for a winning experience for our customers. Unfortunately, there were a ton of agency issues, getting people on the same page was always a challenge, and integrating conflicting business models was messy at best.

Whether or not Windows Phone 7 hits the ground later this year as an “amazing product”, or even a “commercially viable product”, it is a huge win for Microsoft. It’s the first product I’ve seen break down all the walls that Microsoft has built with their businesses and deliver the extent of the value of integrated services to the consumer, and that’s huge.

Some of the features I saw and what they mean:

Xbox –

Currently:Doesn’t have a mobile market at this juncture, didn’t even have solid Zune integration.

What we’re likely getting:A fully integrated experience with Xbox, Zune, PC, and Phone. Plus online gaming, and services on a mobile device, which is something no one else has…. not Apple…. not Sony …. nor Nintendo.

Zune-

Currently:A model focused around the player, when it’s the service that really makes it standout vs. Apple. An anemic mobile purchasing system hampered by lack of connectivity outside of WiFi.

What we’re likely getting: The best music subscription service available to the phone. Better integration with contacts, and social networking for this product.

Bing-

Currently: Actually probably the best current service of any I’ll list from the WP7 features. Lots of cool features but its very under-utilized.

What we’re likely getting: The best chance for Microsoft to make headway into search. Google owns the desktop and will continue to own that. The mobile search market will eclipse that market though and drive higher revenues as location based search offers way more value to customers and businesses.

Office & Exchange services –

Currently: Not well designed for the phone (except for Exchange). Looks like a child’s finger painting next to the sexy (I can’t believe I just called Office sexy, I may need a girlfriend) Office ribbon interface.

What we’re likely getting:WP7 took the best UI available (from Zune) hopefully they take the best UI in productivity from Office as well. It will also be interesting to see the integration with the online services like SharePoint, and Project.

Why This is Great for Consumers

I’m not an Apple supporter but a fully integrated all up approach of software, services, and hardware is the best way to deliver a consistent pleasant experience to your customers. When you look at Microsoft as a whole they have all the pieces to deliver the experiences that Apple does, but sometimes the organizational structure gets in the way.

Seeing a product cross over these boundaries taking the best of what each group offers is huge, and quite honestly wasn’t what I was expecting. So for today there’s nothing but optimism for the Windows Phone, maybe the rebranding was necessary because this doesn’t look like your same tired Windows Mobile 6x device.

If you want more information on the Windows Phone check Gizmodo, an awesome publication for tech-gossip and research.