I have been researching a Microsoft Lync solution for our company for the past year or so. I recently attended the Lync launch event and had a chance to speak with and confirm with a presenter that there will be a -DEEP- integration in the Windows Phone platform. There will be your "promises promises" that you're so sarcastically going on about.
Contrary to the mindless herd's belief, Microsoft ALREADY supports real-time HIGH DEFINITION video chat provided you have 1.5 megabits of solid bandwidth kicking around. It's present in the Microsoft Lync solution which isn't a consumer market which is why there isn't any press coverage. There isn't any existing IM or video network which can make that claim, Microsoft is truly in a league of their own. Now, the problem here is hardware and bandwidth requirements on both wired and wireless connections. Once our country's infrastructure matures we will start seeing MS bring this tech to the forefront.
The reality is that we will see Microsoft perfect their technology in the corporate market first, then release it in the consumer market as a Lync hosted solution(labeled as Windows Live) which will incorporate HD video, E-mail, IMs (which will federate with public IM networks such as AOL/Yahoo/Facebook/etc.), and presence all in one platform. This will be a complete solution with Windows 8 on PCs/laptops, Windows 8 tablet once MS gets around to finishing it, Windows Phone 8, and the Xbox. One E-mail, one screenname, one profile all usable on all endpoints seamlessly without any fuss.
The problem that MS created with Windows Phone 7 is really just a marketing mistake. Teens and anyone that is tech savvy don't want to say, "Hey guys, check out my Windows Phone 7", they want to say, "Check out my _____". For many it's "iPhone". For others it's labeled "Droid". For others, it's labeled "Blackberry" If MS had called this the Xphone, there would have been a heck of a lot more hype and excitement. Even with that being the case, we are seeing developers get behind the platform with enthusiasm which is a great sign.
Of these 4, which doesn't fit/sound right?
"Dude, check out my ________"
A) iPhone
B) Droid
C) Blackberry
D) Windows Phone Seven
My point exactly. It's a shame really, considering how MS has all this amazing tech just waiting to be used.