Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer revealed that an update to Windows Phone 7, dubbed "Mango," will include "over 500 new features," possibly positioning the mobile platform for a more successful push.
The new Internet Explorer 9 will support HTML5, allowing more advanced sites to work in the browser. IE9 also takes advantage of hardware acceleration for smoother graphics: in a recent Microsoft demo, the browser displayed an HTML5 animation at a much higher frame rate than an iPhone 4 or Google's Nexus S.
As PC sales slump and the smartphone market continues to boom, Microsoft is eager to establish itself in mobile. Windows Phone's debut last year was more whimper than bang, and most estimates put the OS's U.S. market share in the single digits, with some evidence that it actually gave up ground to Android and iOS in the first quarter of the year.
However, Microsoft's partnership with Nokia is set to give the platform a boost early next year, and Ballmer also hinted at new handset partners to be announced tomorrow.
The company has also focused on promoting Bing mobile search, striking a deal with Research in Motion to include the search service on BlackBerry phones and rolling out an improved mobile web portal that Windows Phone handsets will finally be able to access with this update.
Although Google, Apple, and RIM remain far ahead of Microsoft in mobile market share, the company's deep pockets and apparent determination to make serious inroads in the market suggest that Windows Phone will be clawing its way to higher penetration. One analyst firm estimates the company's market share will rise to second place, behind Android, by 2015.
Speaking in Japan, Ballmer reportedly admitted that he wished Microsoft had been able to release Windows Phone a year earlier than the company did. Coming late to rescue Microsoft's tottering Windows Mobile platform, the new OS has its work cut out for it.
A preview of Mango is scheduled for tomorrow.
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