When a company says they have started from scratch with a new product and built it from the ground up, you can usually imagine that they’re telling little white lies. However, Microsoft, released its new mobile platform, Windows Mobile 7 Series in Barcelona yesterday, and they’ve done just that. Seriously, this platform is entirely unrecognisable as compared to previous iterations of the software. Microsoft has done the unthinkable and started right from scratch. What they have created, so far, looks little short of brilliant. Video and pictures after the break.

The interface itself really stands out due to its absolute lack of shaded icons, shadows or other fancy visual effect. Instead Microsoft has opted for a rather uncharacteristic classy and simplistic interface which has so far captivated the attention of the world press in Barcelona. It looks nothing like anything else on the market, and in my opinion that is certainly a good thing. The iPhone OS does its thing and many fail to emulate it. Android sort of does its own thing on each device but ends up always looking like a sloppy regurgitation of the same interface on each and every handset. This on the other hand is fresh, interesting and unique. Well done Microsoft.

The start screen has almost been completely done away with and is now, instead a customisable tiled interface of widgets and applications. Additionally, scrolling takes place along the vertical plane and invites users to scroll upwards and downwards to locate their applications as opposed to the traditional left and right. I can’t think how this helps or hinders the navigation process so no complaints from here on that front.

According to all sources the interface is still showing some signs of its youth with the odd missed input and strange behaviour but that’s to be somewhat expected of a product not yet ready for market. To really capture the smartphone market Microsoft is going to have to pin down these issues altogether but considering the promise shown so far Im strangely rather confident in their ability to deliver if not immediately on launch but sometime thereafter. The Windows Mobile 7 Series shows a lot of promise and is, in my opinion a welcome addition to the mobile market which has, over the last few years been very very stagnant. Microsoft has a lot to deliver on but things are certainly looking interesting for the not so distant future.

Images and video courtesy of Engadget