Microsoft Rolls Out Windows Phone 8: All that You Need to Know About the New OS

Wallet Hub and NFC

NFC supported included allows users to use their phone as a digital wallet.NFC tools in WP8 offers a combination of features from iOS and Android. There is a secure wallet to store payment details. All sorts of payment methods and cards can be used thanks to the NFC technology inside WP8.A feature called Wallet Hub is included which allows users of the OS to use debit cards, credit cards, loyalty cards and even NFC tap to pay. A secure SIM from carriers is essential for NFC payment method to work. There is also a feature called Wallet Hub which stores deals for its users. It will also recommend other apps which can be associated with your wallet. The hub also has a Fast Cards section which allows quick access to cards and regularly used deals. 

People Hub

This feature gives users direct access to any contacts, groups and rooms which they are part of. Groups also sync with Microsoft Account. Users will see the same groups under the People section in Outlook.com or Hotmail.com. Contacts can also be shared quite easily via email or message. In NFC enabled phones, users can add and share contacts with tap and send. 

Skype and VOIP

A new background agent that handles VOIP calls has been included. This background agent will handle incoming messages and incoming calls allowing VOIP tools to behave like phone lines. Developers can use these background agents to their own apps. VOIP apps will automatically have full access to your contact list. Skype experience has also been enhanced. Users will not have to sign in and out every time to access Skype. IM updates will also be delivered at a faster rate. 

Nokia maps

WP8 uses mapping technology from Nokia in every handset. Offline maps, turn by turn directions etc will be supported. Developers will have access to map control and high quality NAVTEQ mapping data. Nokia Drive will be housing live tiles which display directions on the home screen. So you will not need to open up the app for viewing maps. Traffic updates, aerial views and map data for over 180 countries have also been included in WP8 with the support from Nokia. 

Office Hub

Office Hub has been redesigned with some new views. Users will be able to view documents according to when it was last modified. Word arrives with a full screen reading mode. It also syncs with the PC so that docs open up at the last place where you left them. Powerpoint comes with a thumbnail view for your slides. Users will be able to view these slides in landscape and portrait orientations. Excel now supports charts. Selecting and reading cells has been made a lot more convenient. 

Email

Attachments with email will show up automatically in the Office Hub. Users will be able to send replies to mails with Voice to Text feature. The theme of the inbox has been modified as dark, to match the theme of the phone. The white theme has been eliminated. 

OneNote Mobile

OneNote Mobile has been dropped from the Office Hub section. It has now become a dedicated app in its own. It can be accessed from the start screen. Notes can be instantly accessed and they automatically sync with Sky Drive. Sharing photos with OneNote happens a lot faster. All users have to do is to tap and hold on the image and follow up by selecting the OneNote option. 

A Voice Notes function has also been included which allows users to record voice notes for OneNote. Voice messages can be recorded even when the phone is locked. OneNote will also automatically transcribe the message for the users. 

Messaging

Sharing content via SMS and MMS has become a lot easier. Users will be able to share location via messages. Users will be able to delete more than one message thread at a time by using checkboxes adjacent to the conversations. 

Word Flow

Microsoft has given a lot of attention for Word Flow, the inbuilt soft keyboard on WP8.New emoticons have been added. Predictive and corrective powers of the keyboard have also been improved. 

Windows Phone 8 for business

Microsoft has included several features in WP 8 OS in order to make it more appealing to business users. Security features like secure boot and several other encryption options have been added. Device management settings and Office options have also been included.