Microsoft has officially finished Windows Phone 7 today. The software giant has officially released Windows Phone 7 to manufacturing (RTM).
The final build and code has been shipped to Microsoft"s hardware and carrier partners to allow them to integrate their own software and services before devices ship later this year. Paul Thurrott notes that there has been several last minute changes to Windows Phone 7 including:
- Facebook contacts filtering in the People hub
- Facebook "Like" capability from the People hub
- Various user interface updates, including a new Search button in the contacts list.
Windows Phone 7 the most thoroughly tested mobile platform the folks at Redmond have ever shipped. According to Microsoft they had nearly ten thousand devices running automated tests daily, over a half million hours of active self-hosting use, over three and a half million hours of stress test passes, and eight and a half million hours of fully automated test passes. Microsoft has had thousands of independent software vendors and early adopters testing Windows Phone 7 and providing feedback.
"We are ready" said Terry Myerson, Microsoft"s Corporate Vice President of Windows Phone engineering. "This has been one of the most incredible product development efforts I’ve ever been a part of. Today’s milestone is exciting not just because of what we’ll deliver to customers later this year, but how it sets us up for success over the long term in the mobile space… we’re really just getting started."
Windows Phone 7 is expected to be available in October for those in Europe and November for those in the US. If you"re interested in more about Windows Phone 7 then please see our in-depth preview.