There are plenty of critics of Windows Phone 7 out there.

For instance, Tony Bradley of PCWorld says Microsoft has made a number of mistakes and omissions with the highly-anticipated Windows Phone 7 platform that greatly handicap its potential success against rival platforms like iPhone and Android.

Windows Phone 7 was delayed. Had it been rushed, it might excuse some of the issues, but the fact that Windows Phone 7 was pushed back so much implies that Microsoft wanted extra time to work out the kinks to ensure the best possible mobile platform once it was released, Bradley says.

It was first release of Windows Phone 7, and users can forgive Microsoft for some minor faux pas. Even iPhone and Android have issues when new releases or updates to the OS are unleashed. But, Microsoft has to respect that it is launching a new mobile OS that has to compete from day one against mature smartphone platforms like iPhone and Android, Bradley says.

InfoWorld’s Galen Gruman, wrote a critical piece about Windows Phone 7, also, calling it a disaster. “From the first time I got a good look at Windows Phone 7, it had all the earmarks of the end of the line for Microsoft's mobile aspirations. After spending an hour with a beta version of Windows Phone 7 in July along with a room full of developers, I was shocked (as were they) at how much was missing from the OS and thus how incapable it was -- there were no signs of copy and paste, multitasking, devicewide search, or HTML5,” Gruman said. “I wrote then that Windows Phone 7 was a disaster that everyone should avoid.”

Bradley adds that confusion over Windows Phone 7 encryption make it impossible for users to comply with ActiveSync security policies and connect with Exchange messaging.

Windows Phone 7 smartphones have expandable memory with SD memory card slots. However, apparently with Windows Phone 7 those SD memory cards are shackled to the smartphone and greatly limit the functionality, according to Bradley.

He admits there is a lot to like about Windows Phone 7, and Microsoft exhibited extraordinary innovation (at least for Microsoft) in developing a unique smartphone interface.

The rookie mistakes in the initial release of Windows Phone 7 may mean it won't survive to see the updates that might make it a real contender, he adds.

TechZone360 reports that The Street said Microsoft sold 40,000 Windows Phone 7 on its first day on sale in the United States – not a huge number.

In an interview with the Street, Michael Cote, an industry strategist with the Cote Collaborative, said Microsoft may have confused consumers with too many models. Microsoft introduced nine Windows 7 phones at its October press event.

However, other industry observers have more confidence in Windows Phone 7. For instance, the first version of the phone was released in the United Kingdom in October and proved to be a hit, selling out some carriers in the first week of its arrival, according to TechZone360’s Stephanie Mosca.  

Ed Silverstein is a TechZone360 contributor. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Juliana Kenny