Microsoft may show Windows Mobile 7 at upcoming Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. CEO Steve Ballmer may unveil the much awaited platform in February 15 - 18 event as Ballmer has scheduled a press conference at the show.

The new software is expected to be more consumer-oriented with a simplified user interface built on Microsoft's Zune HD player which received good reviews. Windows 7 platform is rumored to have company's traditionally strong enterprise products such as Office, Outlook and Xbox and Bing search engine are expected to figure into any Windows Mobile 7 announcement. Microsoft released its Windows Mobile 6.5 in the interim but failed to capture consumer's interest.

Once a dominant player in smartphones category, Microsoft has lost out as its market share has dropped in the recent months.

BlackBerry dominates the category with 41.6%, followed by 25.3% for the iPhone and 5.2% for Google's Android phones, according to research report.

Microsoft hopes to improve its market share with the launch of Windows 7 as consumer wait could finally come to an end in Spain. There is huge potential in smartphone platform that can revive Microsoft's market dominance alike dominant stake in other business categories.