Here are a few examples of apps for the new Windows Phone 7 operating system:
Poynt (free) is the WP7 version of the popular local search engine. It uses GPS to direct you to movie theatres, restaurants, people and retailers, and then allows you to easily interact with them.
YellowPages.ca (free) is – guess what – the WP7 version of the Yellow Pages. It too uses GPS to find nearby vendors, and it displays those locations on a map, and lets you view detailed information on the businesses it locates.
Business Auto Tracker ($5.49) helps manage vehicle expenses. You can log maintenance costs, generate trip reports (it automatically logs trips using the GPS), track reimbursements and export the whole lot to a spreadsheet for further massaging.
MerchantPlus ($15.99) is a mobile virtual credit card terminal. You key in the customer’s information and the app wirelessly authorizes and performs the transaction.
OANDA Currency (free) retrieves foreign exchange rates for more than 190 currencies and four precious metals and converts one to another.
miTodo (free) is a simple but functional task list.
Where’s Timmy (free) finds the nearest Tim Hortons coffee shop.
Of course, all of these features have a sometimes unexpected side effect – significant data usage. This isn’t a function of WP7, it’s a reality for users of this type of device, and it sometimes catches new users off guard.
