Two weeks ago, we announced that we were working hard on Skype for Windows Phone 8.
ENGADGET: Skype for Windows Phone 8 official preview available now (video)
The question is, has a conclusive argument been made for Windows Phone for consumers?
That's not new for Windows Phone, but it still excites us all the same.
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We should see an official announcement for Windows Phone Tango soon, possibly at MWC 2012.
FORBES: Microsoft Dances Deeper Into Low-End Smartphones With Tango
The changes, he added, should increase the addressable market for Windows Phone by more than four times.
FORBES: Microsoft Makes Windows Phone More Social, Intuitive With 'Mango' Update
Skype for Windows Phone has 2 presence states "Available" or "Invisible", legacy presence states are mapped to these.
ENGADGET: Skype for Windows Phone 8 official preview available now (video)
But the analytics firm Kantar has seen significant growth for Windows Phone, largely at the expense of BlackBerry.
ENGADGET: Windows Phone sees big gains at the expense of BlackBerry and Symbian
Today we have released a Skype (version 2.0) Preview for Windows Phone 8.
ENGADGET: Skype for Windows Phone 8 official preview available now (video)
The BBC's effort for Windows Phone 7.5 and 8 mirrors how it brought iPlayer to Blackberry 10 earlier this year.
BBC: Microsoft's Windows Phone platform to get BBC's iPlayer
There are now more than 100, 000 apps available for Windows Phone, up from about 7, 000 at the start of 2011.
This Nokia-made phone, which goes on sale Sunday, will be a key test of consumer demand for Windows Phone devices.
Because the content of the presentation was remarkably similar to the launch event we did for Windows Phone two years ago.
Currently, there are about 105, 000 apps for BlackBerry vs. 700, 000 for iOS and Android each and about 120, 000 for Windows Phone.
For instance, Microsoft only asks for 256 RAM of memory and does not specify a minimum battery capacity for Windows Phone devices.
FORBES: Nokia Can Make Its Windows-Based Lumia Phones 17% Cheaper: Analyst
The move marks a major shift for Windows Phone devices, which up to now have used chips from wireless technology giant Qualcomm.
FORBES: Nokia To Use ST-Ericsson Chips For Windows Phone 8 Handsets
HTC's plans for Windows Phone 8 may be filling out fast.
ENGADGET: HTC Accord may become the mid-range 8X, make a little more Sense
Microsoft also released a few updates to the SkyDrive apps for Windows Phone and Android improving how users access SkyDrive across different devices.
FORBES: Microsoft Adds New Features to SkyDrive, Including Selective Sync
Skyfire has offered a browser for Windows Mobile phones since 2008, but has no plans to create one for Windows Phone 7, said Glueck.
Forthcoming updates for Windows Phone 7 would speed up response times on its handsets and introduce a copy and paste feature, said Mr Ballmer.
These features shine when using Vyclone, a new app for Windows Phone that lets people co-create, sync and edit multiple views of a shared moment.
We'll start rolling out this change as planned across all platforms but will continue to support Google Sync for Windows Phone until July 31, 2013.
Skype for Windows Phone now shows presence in the contact list.
ENGADGET: Skype for Windows Phone 8 official preview available now (video)
In the US, Google already runs a similar service, Google Wallet, while Microsoft has unveiled plans for its own NFC-based Wallet Hub for Windows Phone handsets.
Thakrar stepped aside as CEO of the London-based Touchnote last year with the appointment of Oded Ran, former Head of UK Consumer Marketing for Windows Phone.
FORBES: Touchnote - An App-Driven Postman For The Holiday Havoc
In addition Virgin said it was looking to release an app for Windows Phone 8 and other devices, but could offer no guarantee at this time.
This sort of content syncing is only going to be available for Windows Phone and Windows 8 devices and there's no plan to extend it to others.
That could mean making strategic investments with these companies to ensure they develop for Windows Phone, perhaps taking minimal stock to ensure that their platform as the applications.
FORBES: The Windows Phone App Store Argument Moves From Volume to Variety
This has been a key benefit touted by Microsoft for Windows Phone, albeit one that hasn't been a compelling enough proposition to dramatically boost Windows Phone's market share yet.
Up until the moment Nokia pulled the plug and went for Windows Phone, Symbian OS was maintaining a health market share that Windows Phone right now would kill for.
With 2% in market share for Windows Phone versus a combined 82% held by Apple and Google, according to market research firm NPD Group, it's hardly a war yet.
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