Video games are supposed to be one of Windows Phone 7′s main attractions, and rightfully so; the Xbox is a rare success for Microsoft's entertainment division, so it's about time the brand moved off the television and on to mobile phones.

After spending some time with the Xbox Live feature of Windows Phone 7 on a pre-release HTC Surround handset, my conclusion is similar to the general consensus on the entire OS: There is plenty of potential in this gaming platform, certainly enough to challenge Apple's iPhone. But as it stands, the phone's Xbox Live feature has too many drawbacks and missing features to be a major selling point for gamers when the first Windows Phone 7 models hit the US next week.