This all leads me to today. I am still a faithful BlackBerry owner and I am one of the 1% still utilizing the devices in the U.S. I am very nervous about their upcoming BlackBerry 10 OS, however. If the QNX based OS is as clunky as the PlayBook OS, I believe I will be turning my back on RIM for good. The PlayBook OS consistently crashes, is slow, and isn’t as full featured as my 9900 OS 7.1. While I will reserve my official judgement until it is released in Q1 2013, I have started my yearly quest to find a replacement device in the meantime. There have been some great devices announced recently, including the Nokia Lumia 820 and 920 (both Windows Phone 8), and the existing Samsung Galaxy S III (Android). And, for the fanyboys out there, Apple released the iPhone 5 (iOS 6) this past week. HTC has an announcement scheduled for September 19th and it’s expected that they’ll release their Windows Phone 8 devices, the 8X (Zenith), 8S (Accord), and 8V (Rio).  All appear to be top notch hardware solutions and some (e.g., Lumia 920) just look spectacular.  It is now time to see if any meet my need.

I am a big believer that before you select a solution, you must define the problem statement and your requirements. As one that works within the technology industry, I’ve witnessed too many times where a technology solution is in search of a problem; this only leads to confusion or failure. In order to practice what I preach, and to keep myself from blindly selecting a device, I started two lists to use as input into my buying decision. In the first list I capture the current issues, as I see them, with my current device, the BlackBerry Bold 2. The second list illustrates my “must have” features. We all have our own ways of working, and this list is what suits my style. Without further ado, let’s dig in:

BlackBerry 9900 Bold 2 Issues

I believe it is necessary to provide some context as to why I am thinking about a device switch.  While I spend more time on my “must have” list, I couldn’t ignore the issues I currently face:

Beyond Weak Apps: It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that BlackBerry App World severely lacks the volume and quality of apps one seeks.  The best known apps are either missing or lack the quality to make them worth downloading.  While I typical use websites instead of apps (e.g., m.tripit.com for my travel planning needs), there are times where an app is more convenient.  I believe I could get good use of a mature Evernote application, for example. While Evernote exists for BlackBerry, it is pretty lame.  They do a much better job supporting other operating systems.  Other apps that I would love to get my hands on include Spotify and the Ceton Windows Media Center Companion app.  Clearly BlackBerry, and even Windows Phone, lack in this area.

Group Messaging: I’ll have more on this later, but the best feature of my BlackBerry is also one of the features that I now rarely use.  I love BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), but its use is limited considering that it is very rare to find a fellow BlackBerry owner.  The supplemental applications (e.g., GroupMe & Kik) aren’t all that well implemented on the BlackBerry.

Camera Auto-Focus: This phone came out in 2011 and it arrived without a good camera.  How can this device not how auto focus. Really?  This is a very big disappointment and is also the main reason my neighbor opted for the Samsung Galaxy S III over the BlackBerry Bold 2 (yes, that means I’m down another BBM contact).

Garbage Collection: I’m tired of the spinning clock on my device that appears when I am ready to interact.  This little “feature” is due to memory utilization and a process called “garbage collection,” by us technologists.  It always happens at the worst time, which is, of course, when I want to use the phone for something important and timely.

My Feature Must Haves

Needless to say, I expect to have the obvious features, such as email, calendar, and address book functionality.  I also expect  key device features like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The follow list is more about the features that aren’t automatic for all operating systems.

Enhanced Screen Locking Features:  I move so fast with my phone that I find myself quickly unlocking, typing out a message or note, and relocking, only to repeat about 2 minutes later.  The ability to do this without reentering the password each time is important.  There needs to be a delay between the relocking of the device and the forcing of a password when you unlock.  The BlackBerry 9900 really excels in this area, providing the ability to delay the password lock for 15 minutes.  The Bold 2 also allows you to force a hard lock on demand for those instances where you do not want the delay.  This feature really saves time and frustration.

Lock Screen Messaging: This one is a bit more straight forward. When my phone is locked, I want the ability to display a message in the event I lose my phone.  I currently print out my name, work address, and Google Voice phone number on my current device.  I have seen all too many iPads left behind with little owner information.

Auto Text: The ability to replace text, based on a dictionary I define, helps me be efficient.  For example, when I type “mynum,” my phone automatically converts it to my cellphone number.  When I type “bb,” it auto corrects to BlackBerry.  I have a lot of these auto corrections configured and I use them in advanced ways.  Keep in mind I’m talking about custom auto corrections, not the ones built into the operating systems.  The big operating systems are finally catching up in this area, but it took some time.

Podcast Capabilities: There are three key features I seek in a podcast application.  First, I desire the ability to have the app automatically download the most recent podcast for offline listening.  This should be handled as a background task, not requiring me to trigger the application and refresh.  The BlackBerry Podcast application does this quite well.  However, it falls short of my other two requirements, playback speed and Google Listen syncing.  I enjoy listening to a podcast at a custom playback speed.  1.2x to 2x playback provides me the ability to get more done in less time.  It is amazing how some of these podcast hosts can drag on a conversation.  Speeding them up a bit helps me power through the entire podcast.  The last feature I am seeing is more of a “Nice to Have” than a requirement.  The ability to sync the podcast app with my Google Listen account would be a great bonus.  I currently keep the podcast RSS feed in sync manually, which isn’t a big deal, as it rarely changes.

Hardware Convenience Keys: This is a feature that I believe is grossly underestimated.  As noted earlier, I use my BlackBerry to listen to many podcast episodes.  I also use it to listen to music and even P90X audio at the gym.  When at the gym breaking a sweat, the last thing I want to do is reach for the phone and tap the screen to pause the audio.  Considering the location of the pockets in my gym shorts, and that many of them have zippers, this becomes very inconvenient.  I truly love the ability to pause or skip a song by just the feel of my phone.  I can access the proper hardware key with ease.  This also helps when I’m on a conference call, as I can (un)mute easily to save those on the call from background noise.

Physical Keyboard: Not worth a lengthy conversation here, other than to say you really don’t appreciate the physical keyboard until you try a soft keyboard and then come back.  I would “get used” to using the iPhone soft keyboard and find myself making it work. However, when I would go back to the physical keyboard, it was as if I rediscovers the use of my hands.   I despise those text messages I get from my friends that make absolutely no sense.  One or two is OK, but when it is the norm it really should be embarrassing. I can type on my 9900 without looking and I still don’t run into that issue. I laugh at those that say they love their soft keyboards.

Integrated Inbox:  Having the ability to read email, texts, MMS, and Facebook, Twitter, & LinkedIn messages in one inbox just makes sense.  I just don’t get the idea of opening up a different app to access each of these messages.  The single inbox concept helps keep me organized and I find it to be very efficient.

True Multi-Tasking:  I fly around on my current device and I can often be found loading a webpage in the background, while cranking out a few emails.  While in the background, webpages and refreshes should happen seamlessly and should be ready for me upon my return to the app.  Again, it is about efficiency. I’m glad to see that many of the OS manufacturers are taking a harder look at this feature.

Customized Alerts & Ringtones: While this sounds trivial, it amazes me how limited some operating systems are in this arena.  I seek the ability to customize sounds based on event types (e.g., phone ring, email, text, calendar event, etc..).  A big bonus is to customize an alert for a specific type of message. For example, I have my phone alert me with a unique sound when I receive an email from my wife or my boss (yes, they are two different people).

Simultaneous Social Updates:  Another pretty straight forward feature, but one where iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone did not fare well for some time.  I desire, via the device, not a hashtag, the ability to post to numerous social networks at once.  I also want to read updates from all of the networks in one combined timeline.  I currently use Scope, formally Socialscope, and it is pure awesomeness.  They recently launched an Android application, but I haven’t had the time to test drive.  iOS and Windows Phone have begun integrating social components directly in the OS.  While neither has nailed it yet, they are making great progress.

Background Social Updates:  One thing I love about Scope is that I can quickly launch and see the latest updates right away, as they were loaded automatically in the background.  I haven’t found an app that rivals this Scope feature; I find myself waiting for the update, or refreshing manually, because the app was dormant in the background.  Have I mentioned efficiencies?

Google Voice: I leverage Google Voice for both my office and personal inbox.  The Google Voice application for BlackBerry is horrible and is no longer maintained. Clearly the Android OS provides the best Google Voice experience.  I want that experience.

Turn-by-Turn Directions:  I struggled even including this one in my list.  I actually enjoy looking at my normal phone maps and finding my way around without some automated voice prompts.  It’s like a puzzle and it feels great to put it all together and arrive at your destination.  However, it would be nice to get some voice prompts so I can focus on the road more.  BlackBerry Traffic is a great app, but it is very limited when it comes to visual mapping.  I am really intrigued by Nokia Drive, with its offline map functionality.  I guess owning NAVTEQ has its privileges.  It is going to be interesting to see how Apple does with their proprietary (surprise) mapping service.  It is a risky, but understandable, move.

Group Messaging:  I love, love, love BlackBerry Messenger (BBM).  However, it is like loving the 911 Porsche in your garage that you are not allowed to touch or drive.  I just had another 4 friends, within a month, dump their BlackBerry devices.   My BBM friend list continues to shrink.  GroupMe is a solid alternative to keep in touch with friends and is something I have started to utilize more often.

Fitness App: While I’m not a frequent runner, I do get out often enough to track my progress.  And, when I do run, I am typically in a foreign location which increases my desire to track my footsteps as a keepsake of the trip.  I currently use the Adidas miCoach app, but there are plenty of options on the market.  I would rather not leave miCoach, as it houses my historical data.  (Side bar: I ran 5 miles in Columbia, MO last week and I think I found a bug in the application.  It tracked my path across the Atlantic.  I’m not that impressive.)

Sport Scores Push Notification: I’ll keep this short and sweet.  Give me the ability to set alerts for score and lead changes for my favorite teams or games.  Yes, it should be that simple.

Automatic Spell Check: Another simple feature that some operating systems just don’t do well.  Before I send an email, check my spelling and prompt me if there are any questionable words.

Conference Bridge Dialing: This is another one of those features that goes grossly underestimated. I find myself joining conference bridges often and I don’t need the burden of memorizing numbers or fumbling around with copy and paste actions.  I can’t help but wonder why these so-called “smartphones” don’t do a better job of recognizing a conference bridge number and access code, while adding the necessary pauses when dialing.  It is truly the little things that can make or break my experience.  Fortunately, the BlackBerry OS has an add-on feature that meets my needs.  I haven’t explored the other operating systems as much, but the last time I owned an Android, iPhone, or Windows Phone 7, they did not handled this well, at all.

Camera Functionality: Simple: auto-focus, geo-coding, flash, video, and sharing.  A front camera for self portraits is a big bonus, and, of course, great image quality and resolution.  OK, maybe it isn’t that simple.

Mobile Hotspot: While this isn’t at the top of my list, the ability to create a mobile hotspot out of my phone would be a great feature.  I have run into this need many times.

LTE: Who doesn’t want fast upload and download speeds?  The new iPhone 5 is packed with LTE, as are the Lumia 820, 920, and Android Galaxy S III devices.  I think the bigger question is if AT&T can handle the load generated from these new devices.  Only time will tell, but history says it is going to be tough.  My BlackBerry Bold 2 sports HSPA+, and I’m ready for a speed upgrade.

Battery Life: My BackBerry 9700 was the king of battery life and I never had an issue.  My BlackBerry 9900 holds its own, but can’t match the 9700.  My requirement is simple: I do not want to be like those that tote an Android and have their phone tethered to a charging station for much of the day.  We have really regressed with battery life in the last few years.  The Android devices have trained customers to believe battery life has always been bad for smartphones.

Browsing:  A few simple ones: easy word searching within a webpage, tabbed browsing, and, most importantly, the ability to share webpages with my social networks and address book, via email and text.

Screen Resolution & Quality: I’m not a screen resolution, or size, junky.  Just give me something north of 250 ppi.

Phone Dimensions: I’m not sure if you have seen the Galaxy S III, but it is a monster!  I was a bit taken back by the size of my BlackBerry 9900 (4.53 x 2.60 x 0.41) and it is dwarfed by the almost tablet sized Samsung Galaxy (5.38 x 2.78 x 0.34).   I really like the Lumia 920, but the size rivals that of the Galaxy.  I would rather go with the 820 (4.87 x 2.70 x 0.39), but the other specs for that device are just rough (e.g., ppi at 217).  The iPhone 5 looks like a great size (4.87 x 2.31 x 0.30) compromise.

Nice-to-Have: Without going into detail, here are a few features that I would really like, where it makes sense, but are not deal breakers: quick switch to vibrate or silent when entering a movie theatre or church, video and wi-fi calling, panoramic photo shooting, expandable storage and microSD slot, address book synching with social networks, and Google Reader synchronization (although I can live with the website version of Reader).

You may want to call me high maintenance, but at least I know what I want in my device.  Considering the list, I clearly need to spend time ranking and weighing each item, as no device can meet all of my needs.

This posted started as a short list to myself as I began to internally debate my next move.  As I progressed through my thinking, I found myself becoming more conflicted.  I’m clearly biased and I mostly love my tin can with a string.  However, there are key features missing and the BB 10 OS looms.  The clock is ticking!

I’m not the only one thinking Microsoft has a great opportunity ahead. The IDC is forecasting Windows Phone 7 sales to bypass iPhone sales by 2015.

I continue to be impressed with Microsoft’s aggressiveness as it relates to Windows Phone 7 and I am delighted that IHG has broken ground with the first major hotel chain WP7 app. Here is the official description from the marketplace:

Description
Priority Club® Rewards is now available through your Windows phone. Download the FREE Priority Club Rewards app today and you’ll have immediate access to the entire Priority Club Rewards Family of Brands including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites.

Features
- Enroll to become a Priority Club Rewards member
- Find and book rooms at over 4,400 hotels worldwide
- Use Priority Club Rewards Points to redeem free Reward Night stays
- Get special rates using your Corporate ID
- Use the credit cards already associated with your Priority Club Rewards account to expedite bookings and store credit cards for future bookings
- Use GPS and interactive maps to easily find hotels near you
- View and cancel upcoming reservations
- View photo galleries and amenities for each hotel
- Click-to-call for each hotel
- View points balance and membership status
- Get access to special offers

Be sure to check it out and post a review.

Outlook improvements. We’ve improved the experience of viewing iPhone photo attachments you receive from a non-Exchange-based email account (such as a Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo! Mail account), using the Global Address List (GAL) when connecting to Exchange Server 2003 using Exchange ActiveSync, and working with email display names that contain brackets (for example, “David Alexander [Contoso]“).

Read more about their update here.

The next big milestone, of course, for Windows Phone7 is the ‘Mango’ update due at the end of the year. I really hope Microsoft gets it out on time, as I’m looking forward to the platform being enhanced with IE9 and the integration of Twitter into the People Hub.

- Keith Credendino

Over the last few months I have read and listened to numerous articles, books, and podcasts regarding change and leadership. A book titled The Leadership Challenge by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner, and some writings from Andy Stanley really stood out to me. They spoke about the need to challenge the status quo. The biggest item I took away from all of these readings is this: Progress is preceded by change, and change is preceded by challenge. Therefore, you must challenge the status quo for change and progress to occur.

Taking this all into consideration, it is important that I, and we, create an environment that provides the freedom to challenge the current process. I am one person and the way I interpret things and execute is limited. I thrive in surrounding myself with people, such as you, that have better ideas than I possess. We need to leverage these different ideas and opinions of the group to succeed. We must create opportunities for our subordinates to challenge the process. We will realize a healthy organization if we create these opportunities, and we will create these opportunities if we have a healthy organization.

Although I encourage challenge in our organization, there are, of course, some ground rules. First, you must understand the art of challenging. I am not asking us to challenge for challenge sake, nor am I asking us to generate an environment of public conflict. We must be savvy in the way we challenge. To steel a line from Andy Stanley: be a raving fan publicly and an honest critic privately. Unless your leader is inviting you to challenge publicly, stand by them in public settings. However, be sure to have those private, one-on-one, discussions and share your ideas and keep challenging. We must present a unified front, but continue an honest dialogue. The reality is that public loyalty creates private leverage.

We also must realize that everything that is currently in place was once considered a good idea. In fact, the process in place was probably once considered revolutionary and it solved a large problem. Before you begin challenging a process, you need to appreciate the fact that everything in place was put in place because it accomplished something important at the time. Do charge forward with your new idea, but also take a moment to a step back and appreciate the current state.

There are only a few sacred cows that cannot be challenged, but everything else is up for grabs. Our mission to create and maintain world class website and mobile products is core to our organization, as is the mission to create Great Hotels Guests Love. However, the approach and methods for achieving these goals are fair game and should be challenged.

We must be constant with our challenges. A system, but its definition, will resist change. I’m not seeking anarchy; systems are necessary in any organization. However, an environment must be created where challenges are invited. During your team meetings, informal conversations, and one-on-one discussions, be sure to create this environment. Together we can realize amazing progress, but we must change by challenge the status quo if we want to be world class, create an amazing work environment, and deliver on IHG’s vision to create Great Hotels Guests Love.

So start challenging! Together we are going to realize amazing progress.

- Keith

DEAR RECEIVER,

You have just received a Taliban virus. Since we are not so technologicaly advanced in Afghanistan, this is a MANUAL virus. Please delete all the files on your hard disk yourself and send this mail to everyone you know.

Thank you very much for helping us.

Thanks & Regards

Miss Helen

Would love to know if anyone actually executes on this request.

With that said, I will be the first person to try out the latest devices in the market, especially since I am responsible for the mobile team within our technology organization. In addition to all of the BlackBerry devices I have owned (including the recently released Torch, for which I am not a fan), I have had the iPhone, several Android devices (HTC EVO 4G, Motorola Droid, and Samsung Galaxy S – Captivate), and the new Windows Phone 7 phone, specifically the Samsung Focus. I am a pretty opinionated person and I haven’t hidden my thoughts about these devices. However, this most recent experience has urged me to do a little writing on the subject, specifically about Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 OS, since it is at the top of mind.

First, I find it important to articulate what matters to me in a smartphone.

Battery Life – I require my device to carry me through a full day without requiring a charge. I don’t have time to tether my phone or tie it up to a wall socket for a charge. I want to go through the entire day without even thinking about running out of a battery.

Email Client – It’s not just about reading, writing, and responding to messages. There is so much more to an email client. I need to manage my Out of Office message, conduct advanced email searches, and quickly delete or “mark as read” messages in bulk fashion.

Shortcut Keys – I need to efficiently navigate my device. I know what I need; I want to perform an action as quickly as possible. For example, I desire the ability to forward or reply to an email with one press of a button, even without opening the message. Additionally, I want to open up an application via convenience, dedicated hardware, or shortcut keys in rapid fashion. I have shortcuts for everything I do on the device, including looking for emails in my inbox that are marked as “drafts” or opening up my browser. The amount of shortcuts I use would blow your mind.

Browser - I desire “tabbed” browsing with quick access to page information (e.g., current page address), link information (without following the link), and bookmarks. I also require the ability to conduct searches, using the search provider of my choice, and without navigating to their webpage first.

Text Input & Manipulation – At times, I will type full blown essays on my BlackBerry. I need a way to navigate through text quickly, copy and paste, and type at a fast pace without checking each and every word after typing. I also need spell check. (Oh, and by the way, I am typing this all on my BlackBerry, right now.)

Calendar - I need to have my calendar synced, with the ability to email those on the invite (you know, when I’m running late), with one key press. I also need to send invites and add people to existing appointments.

Address Book – Addition to being synced with the server address book, I need to perform remote address lookups for those not in my immediate contact list. I also need the ability to wire my address book with other apps on the device, such as Facebook and Twitter, to join picture information and other attributes.

Auto Text – It is amazing how much I lean on my auto text feature. It helps me crank out quick and proper messages in no time. For example, if I want to type out the word BlackBerry, I just type “bb” and my phone automatically converts to “BlackBerry,” proper case and all. Additionally, if I type “mynum,” my full cell phone number is automatically inserted. I have so many of these custom auto-text features configured – many of which contain special characters – it’s hard to think about a smartphone life without them.

Apps - I do not need 100 apps and I’m not a smartphone gamer. What I need are apps that will help me be more efficient and productive. For example, I want an app that allows me to update Facebook and Twitter at the same time, with minimal clicks. Also, I need the staple apps such as Google Maps, Voice, and Pandora.

Podcasts - I have been into podcasts lately and the ability to listen on-the-go via my phone is great. What is key is the ability to download to my phone (automatically) for offline listening at a later time.

Multitasking – I almost take this one for granted since this has been a staple of RIM’s for many years. I desire the ability to listen to the WSJ Morning Tech Briefing podcast while replying to an email or reviewing my schedule for the day. Sounds trivial, but don’t tell that to many of the OS developers out there.

Other - Almost no need to say, but I need a camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, and at least 3G speed. A keyboard is something I prefer, but Swype is pretty slick and could be a viable option; I enjoyed using with my Samsung Galaxy S.

So, that brings me to Windows Phone 7 (WP7). I had high hopes for the latest OS out of Redmond since their big “Reset.” I have had the luxury of using the Samsung Focus for the last week and I quickly stacked it up against my aforementioned desires. Let me state that I believe Microsoft is on the right track with this OS, but they suffer from some of the same fate as their competitors and it is also obvious that they pushed out this product rather quickly. What has been productionized works great. However, it is clear that several features were put onto the back burner for the first release due to time-to-market constraints. The good news is that there is already two rumored releases scheduled for early 2011.

Below I break my thoughts into two categories: The Basics & My Wish List.

The Basics
For as much as the boys in the Pacific Northwest got right, they got as much wrong. There or some simple things I would expect out of any smartphone that just don’t exist within the WP7 OS. Some are probably simple oversights and some are major mistakes on the behalf of Microsoft.

Wi-Fi Configuration – One of the first things I did when I brought my phone home was attempt to connect to my home Wi-Fi network. In addition to wireless encryption, I also hide (i.e., don’t broadcast) my SSID. I was shocked to discover that you can’t manually connect to a wireless network via WP7. I had to broadcast my signal in order to get connected. Not a good start. Moreover, when I connect to a hotspot, I would like the option to automatically load my browser to authenticate. WP7 does not notify me that further authentication is required.

Global Address Lookup (GAL) - My company currently uses Exchange 2003 to power our corporate email. Upon sending one of my first emails, I ran into a very disturbing issue. There is a WP7 bug that prevented me from looking up account information remotely. Meaning, if I don’t have an email address memorized or in my local contacts, I can’t address an email. Considering they are touting product integration, I find it disappointing that Microsoft would make such a mistake. I need remote lookup on my Windows Phone 7!

Multitasking – As I mentioned previously, I require the ability to jump around often. I will often find myself checking email while I wait for a web page to load in the background, all with Pandora playing and my podcasts downloading for offline use. The power of this cannot be underestimated. Fortunately, Microsoft sees this need and it is rumored that they will address this need in January. I hope they get this right.

Email - I believe iPhone and Android fail greatly in this area. I had confidence that Microsoft could knock this one out of the park, due to their Exchange knowledge and products. However, the current rendition of the WP7 email client misses the mark. There is no Out of Office configuration capabilities, the rules I configure in Outlook (to move email around) don’t translate to the Windows Phone 7 OS, and it is missing advanced search capabilities. Overall, it is a basic email app.

Copy and Paste – Need I say more? Microsoft should have learned a lot from Apple’s faulure to deliver this capability with original OS versions. (However, when Apple did deliver it, in addition to “multitasking,” you would think it was a new concept.)

Mute Button – I often find myself participating in conference calls when I’m on the road. To minimize the background noise, and respect those on the other line, I keep myself on mute when I’m not speaking. I am in need of a physical convenience button that is easy to find and can be used to quickly mute and unmute myself during a call. Considering how often I use mute/unmute, I don’t enjoy pulling the WP7 device away from my face to perform this task.

Battery Life – As with other Super AMOLED and high res smartphones, the battery life falls short of my needs. I have no choice but to charge my phone at some point during the day. My schedule doesn’t lend itself well to this inconvenience.

My Wish List
Microsoft definitely got a handful of things right with this OS. Some of them require a bit more tweaking, however. Here is my wish list for the future:

People Integration – Microsoft nailed the “People Hub” feature, where you can “See What’s New” or “pin” people to the home screen. I’m impressed with the design and execution of this feature. Unfortunately, one can’t configure their Twitter account. I have read that it is due to a policy issue, but I am confident Microsoft can work something out. In addition to configuring Twitter, I would like a feature to update Twitter and Facebook at the same time, choosing the desired service(s) at post time. While we are at it, I would like to see LinkedIn incorporated into the People Hub, as well.

Customizing Live Titles – I love the “Live Tiles” idea. I would like to customize the tiles a bit more, choosing size, color, and even update options. For example, I pinned my wife’s profile to the home page and it will show her name and picture in a scrolling fashion. It will also flip through her latest Facebook status from time-to-time. I would like the ability to see that status more frequently, instead of waiting for it to scroll through.

Email Enhancements – I would really like to see a combined inbox so I don’t have to jump from application to application to connect to people. A text message is no different than a work message, which is no different than a personal email, for me. They all are conveying a message, just with unique content and under a different context. Also, I would like to see integration for Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn messages for this combined inbox.

Podcasts - This is probably something that can be solved with an app, but I would like to see the ability to download podcasts for offline use. The options in the Marketplace today require me to download once I start playing (i.e., I’m dependent on a network connection to listen on demand). Additionally, the media player for WP7 could use some UI improvement, as it lacks some controls such as easy timeline scrolling.

Cloud Documents – I’m glad to hear the rumors that Microsoft will be introducing SkyDrive integration with their next release. I would also like to see Live Mesh features, such as the ability to browse another connected computer and pull up a remote document.

Overall, I believe Microsoft has a potential hit on their hands. Although I’m not a big gamer, I believe their Xbox Live integration will give them a unique edge in the market. I also know it is a matter of time until they enhance the product to a point where it evolves from a good OS to a great one.

I am a firm believer in the free market and I’m ecstatic about the options in the mobile space. RIM is fighting for their lives (I believe that they will come out well), Apple and Google are rolling (Apple finally caught up to RIM, matching their 27% smartphone market share), and Microsoft is the new (old) comer to the game. Of course there is still Symbian and webOS, but my money won’t be in their corners.

This is a very exciting time and I look forward to watching this battle play out. Who knows, someone may enter the market and change the rules of the game, as we saw with Apple several years back (who would have thought they would make a phone?).

Until then, Microsoft, the ball is in your court. Let’s see what you have with this next release and feel free to look me up if you want a beta tester.

- Keith

- Keith

I must say that for our first release, the application is quite impressive. It is branded Priority Club Rewards, which is our loyalty program, and the key features include:

• Enroll to become a Priority Club Rewards member
• Find and book rooms at over 4,400 hotels worldwide
• Use Priority Club Rewards account information to expedite bookings
• Use GPS and interactive maps to easily find hotels near you
• View and cancel upcoming reservations
• View photo galleries and amenities for each hotel
• Click-to-call for each hotel
• View Priority Club Rewards points balance and membership status
• Get access to special offers
• Update your Priority Club Rewards profile information

The team worked extra hard on delivering and I couldn’t be more proud. Well done, folks.

Here is a screen grab from an iPhone for more information.

What are you waiting for, go download and drop IHG a review.

Way to go team!