MS predictions for 2013 list them

Posted by based_graham on December 31, 2012 05:54 pm 26

Windows Phone

February announce WP 8.1 adding key features such as VPN, Notification Center, Additional Volume Settings etc. Also 1st party apps such as Mail, Calendar, People, Xbox games/music will get updated with new features. I also expect Xbox Video support.
Windows phone will scale down rather than scaling up. We might see QWERTY WP devices before we see 1080P WP's. I expect QWERTY style WP's debuting at MWC and 1080P Windows phone with a UI change Q4.
MWC will debut new WP devices probably running the same specs but updated hardware such as a new PureView from Nokia and a Surface Phone from Microsoft to lead the charge. I expect the Surface Phone to go head-to-head with the Nexus 4 but available at more retail channels.

Windows 8

Windows 8 blue will debut at MWC for a Q3 launch. Beta will probably roll out sometime close to MWC. Blue will have UI changes the ability to change tile sizes, updates to core apps and include new features like a Notification Center.
Windows 8 will scale down to lower screen sizes 5 - 8 inch including a phone app for phone calls. So expect Phablets that run Windows 8 blue to compete against Android. These tablets will not have a desktop just straight Modern.
More mobile vendors such as HTC, Nokia will debut new Windows 8 Blue and RT devices MWC second batch of Win8 devices coming out Q2 to Q3 utilizing the new Blue SW update.

Office

Skype

Skype will be the main go to communication platform on all MS devices
Skype will compete head on with BBM and iMessage makes it dead easy to Skype between WP to Win8, WP to WP, Win8 to Win8 etc
Skype will add more Lync type features to the application

Xbox

Surface

An array of new Surface devices ranging from phones, tablets, laptops and maybe all-in-ones will debut this year to compete against Apple's HW lineup.

The Verge