Microsoft's lucky number is 7. After all the hammering the software giant has been getting (most of them deservedly) for the Vista mess, Steve Ballmer’s company hits pay dirt with Windows 7. While basically Vista without the bad press and bad attitude, Windows 7 helped greatly in Microsoft's crawl back into profitability (bigger profitability, to be precise).

In the mobile phone side of the picture, Microsoft's Windows Mobile platform for smartphones and PDAs has done worse than stagnate. Its being one of the pioneer systems did not help in any way Microsoft's bid to defend its position, and outmaneuver its rivals' outflanking drives.

WinMo has become a has-been, moribund operating system, a platform that only your grandfather would love, and grudgingly at that.

Then Microsoft launches the Windows Phone 7. Its uninspired name notwithstanding, this mobile OS embodies what Microsoft hopes would be the new theme of the software company's mobile business — a dynamic and robust platform that does more than a pale mimicry of its desktop and laptop siblings.

Some media reports assert that Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 is a game-changing mobile platform. Others claim it is the best that the software vendor has ever come up with, while others still say that WP7 is one of the best mobile platforms ever.

I guess, it would be wise to put our verdict on hold and wait for the first WP7-enabled device or two we can get our hands on. But this early, this corner can say that Microsoft finally has learned a thing or two from Apple on how to do product intros.

Create a buzz, a big, big buzz. The rest will follow.

Too Few iPads?

And speaking of Apple's product-launch strategies, there are media reports saying that there might be a shortage of iPad even before its official release this month. According to a NewsFactor Network report, "manufacturing glitches will limit the initial availability of the tablet computer, a Wall Street analyst has warned."

A note to investors issued by Canaccord Adams analyst Peter Misek says that production problems will limit the initial availability of Apple's tablet computer to 300,000 units. Also, this may force Apple to push the product launch originally scheduled for March back to April.

Well, Apple may or may not be really experiencing iPad production problems. Whatever the real score is, however, one thing is certain. This so-called limited availability only whets further consumer appetite for the tablet computer.

Despite the lack of a clear market segment for the iPad, and its ridiculous name notwithstanding, expect long queues of fans to form once again before Apple retail stores and other outlets once Apple releases the tablet.