Samsung GT-i8700 Omnia 7 – the first mobile with Windows Phone 7

Samsung has divided its smartphones into three series depending on which operating system they run. The Wave models run the company’s own Bada system, the Galaxy runs Android and the Omnia, with the exception of the Symbian handset Omnia HD, has always been focused on Windows.

Now comes the first phone with Windows Phone 7, practically called Omnia 7.

Of the Windows Phone 7 handsets that are released first in Sweden, this is the absolute top model in terms of hardware.

Fantastic screen
Samsung has made light of it with a four-inch Super Amoled screen. It gives an absolutely fantastic picture when looking at pictures or using one of the slightly more colorful apps.

It’s a bit of a shame that the interface and apps in Windows Phone 7 have a really simplified color scheme, with a screen this good, more variety would have been nice.

In the same way as with the Galaxy S and Wave, it is the touch sensation that is the screen’s best feature. It is undoubtedly the best in the industry right now.

In addition to the screen, the handset is a really awesome build. Two of the three buttons on the front are of a really good touch type with a nice vibration feedback, while the start button is neatly sunk into the shell.

The whole handset feels very well thought out and luxurious with smart little details. The power button is located on the side for easy access. However, there is one drawback, the metal cover for the battery and the remaining parts of both the back and sides are insanely slippery. This means that we do not get a good grip on the phone, and if it is on uneven surfaces, the handset likes to slide away.

Nothing special in the interface
The first to sell the Omnia 7 is mobile operator 3, and Samsung has tried to adapt the interface to match the operator there.

Microsoft has a firm grip on its Windows Phone 7 and unlike, for example, Android, manufacturers are not allowed to put their own skins on the interface.

This has resulted in Samsung’s special adaptation only consisting of an image uploader with a few more options than Microsoft’s own, as well as a hub function for exactly 3.

The hub itself doesn’t provide much more than the mobile site that it happily forwards you to, but as an operator service it does just fine.

However, this makes the interface feel very anonymous. Samsung has changed the color scheme to blue to match its own logo, otherwise there isn’t much that differentiates the software and system in this handset beyond what Microsoft contributes.

At the same time, the interface has a style and functionality we really like. Windows Phone 7 is fast and mostly smart. But it is not completely useful until Microsoft’s services kick off in earnest in Sweden. For the time being, the English interface applies.

Sometime in the next year there will be an upgrade. Until then, the Omnia 7 is a great phone, but it doesn’t quite make it all the way.

Samsung GT-i8700 Omnia 7
Manufacturer: Samsung, www.samsung.se
Band: Quad band gsm, wcdma (hsdpa)
Screen: 4 inches, 480×800 pixels, capacitive touch
Talk time: 390 hours
Passing time: 6 hours
Memory: 8GB
Camera: 5 megapixel, autofocus, photo light
Operating system: Windows Phone 7
Measure: 64.2 x 122.4 x 10.99 mm
Weight: 138.2g
Other: Gps, wifi
Approx price: SEK 6,000

Plus: Very good screen, well thought out design
Minus: Anonymous interface, terribly slippery shell
Grade: (7 out of 10)

Read more about mobile phones on PC for Everyone theme page.

Samsung GT-i8700 Omnia 7