Windows Phone 7 to integrate with Xbox Live

At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Microsoft revealed the first major details for the first line of Windows 7-compatible phones, including games and Xbox Live compatibility.

At the company's Mobile World Congress press conference, Microsoft unveiled the many features Windows 7 will be bringing to mobile phones in the coming months. Along with music, video, and Microsoft Office features, a new mobile gaming service was revealed that allows connectivity with Xbox Live.

Joe Belifore, Microsoft's vice president of its Windows Phone division, detailed the main features of the games hub. While gamers can access their Xbox Live Avatar and read up on the latest Xbox news on their Windows 7 phones, the company touted the gaming connectivity above all, as the phones will allow players to sync with their Xbox Live accounts, earn Achievements, and play turn-based games with other players. "We think of games, fundamentally, as a social experience," Belifore said.

While the company has a long way to go before challenging the mobile phone gaming experience that is the iPhone, the social gaming and Xbox Live connectivity of Windows 7 phones offer a much different portable experience. While no games were revealed during the press conference, the game tiles shown during the speech in the image above seem to indicate that the cross-platform games will mostly consist of puzzle, card, and board games. Microsoft couldn't reveal any specific games will be available for the service when it launches, but a spokesperson did state that "our catalogue for launch will include a range of games for both hardcore and casual gamers."