[Windows Phone 7 General] C:Sharp!:
Hm, I can give a short answer to the thread question. I think it is an easy one.

There's the software on one side, and the hardware on the other.

Then there's jailbroken iPhone OS and jailbroken WP7S on one side, and stock iPhone OS or WP7S on the other.

Of course, it only makes sense to either compare them when both are jailbroken or when both are not jailbroken.

So much for the explanations, now here's my answer:

The iPhone OS offer the advantage of tens of thousands of applications and copy/paste, while Windows Phone 7 offers the advantage of near perfect integration with Microsoft's services, both Windows Live (which is free) and Exchange (paid), both of which I think have the potential to be better than Apple's MobileMe offering (though it still needs to be determined how deep the Live integration goes, cause it will of course not be competitive with MobileMe if there is again a lack of crucial features).

Both are limited in the same ways, i.e. no multitasking, no file system access (which can get very annoying), marketplace censorship...

Like the iPhone, Windows Phones will most likely be jailbroken to overcome those limitations. However, it remains to be seen, how long it will take, to get a file explorer, task switcher etc. on WP7S. I think that since it is based on Windows CE and those things are already there in the emulator, it could be an easy task and make jailbroken WP7 more powerful and easier to handle than jailbroken iPhone OS.

So much for the software side. There's really not much difference. Both are locked down platforms, created for non-tech-savvy people.

Though both can be unlocked, I really don't see why any "power user" would choose one of them. Why go through the hassles of jailbreaking, when you can get the "power" platform, Android, on powerful hardware like the Desire?

Well, OK, maybe jailbreaking WP7S will be so easy that it doesn't even matter that it's locked down. Something that you can't say about the iPhone.

But even then, it remains to be seen, whether developers will create "power" applications outside the marketplace (those that take advantage of multitasking, file system access and native APIs).

Then, there's the hardware. Unfortunately, Apple has been lacking behind in that area since the introduction of the iPhone, until now.

The iPhone's materials are cheap, the screen resolution is outdated and the camera is sub-par.

I think Apple know they must release something that's at least competitive to phones like the HTC Desire, with a bigger WVGA screen, faster processor, more RAM, better camera with flash and much higher quality materials.

Maybe they will. Maybe not. To be honest, I doubt it. That's where the true advantage of Windows Phone 7 Series might be. Not the actual software, but the hardware it runs on.

Right now, WP7S is not an option, and probably won't be for another year.

Also right now, in my opinion, the iPhone is not an option, due to seriously outdated hardware (unless you're OK with crappy pictures, a small low-res screen and scratches in the casing).

And also right now, Windows Mobile is almost not an option anymore, due to the lack of support from developers (face it, unless you rely on some special apps for your work or special use cases, Android and iPhone software choice and quality is really much better).

What remains right now is only Android. Unless you're a Google or Java hater, it really gives almost anything you can wish. Power to the power user, ease of use, great choice of software.

Sure, in June, Apple might introduce new hardware and software that make any Android phone look outdated. Maybe, maybe not. And sure, maybe WP7S can easily be jailbroken and made as powerful as WM6.5 and Android are.

But we don't know, and that's why I'm only talking about the "right now". Right now, to me, Android is the only choice.

That may, of course, change rapidly, within months.

And of course, you may be someone who cares more about all the apps on the iPhone than about the crappy pictures it takes.

And of course, you may care more about all XBox Live integration than about multitasking.

To each his own.

What I don't think, however, is, that WP7S offers enough advantages to be competitive. A great multitasking concept (like webOS), copy&paste etc. would make it a much more serious competitor to the iPhone.

As it stands, WP7S is just almost an exact copy with some advantages, but also disadvantages.

(I'm not going to weigh them. For some, the number of apps may be a huge deal, for others, MS services or XBox Live may be more important).