Fierce Wireless reports one such commentator - Avi Greengart of Current Analysis - believes Microsoft is following Apple's iPhone path far too closely with Windows Phone 7, telling the site that the giant is failing to develop its own strategy.
"Microsoft is recreating the iPhone instead of transcending its limitations," said Greengart, giving the OS an overwhelming "negative".
Bite of the Apple
"Microsoft has precisely copied Apple's approach in so many ways that we are coining a new acronym: JLA (i.e., Just Like Apple)," he added.
In Greengart's view, everything from limiting third-party multitasking through to selling all apps through its own marketplace is 'JLA', Greengart also rejecting Microsoft's plans to embed its own services Xbox Live, Bing search, Zune into elements of the OS by default.
He concluded, "Microsoft needed to make radical changes to the OS and its strategy. We just wish it didn't include aping Apple's vertically controlled experience so closely."
The concern is, while iPhone obviously represents a successful model others are likely to ape, by being so faithful to Apple's vision Microsoft may be left behind when its rival innovates further down the line.
Easy as HTC
Greengart's comments come as rumours surrounding the specs of the upcoming HTC HD3 Windows Phone 7 handset have hit the internet.
Mobile Mentalism published what it claims is a leaked spec sheet earlier in the week, the site reporting that the HD3 will come with what it describes as a "more big" 4.5" AMOLED screen with 1280x800 resolution, 1080p HD video playback, 720p HD video recording and an HDMI output and plenty more.
"The end of Windows Mobile seems to have ushered in a brave new world of super-advanced Windows Phone 7 Series phones, at least if the HTC HD3 is anything to go by," Mobile Mentalism states.
The site also has other "leaked" shots of LG's as of yet unnamed Windows Phone 7 handset.
