LONDON – Microsoft has removed the cut and paste function from its forthcoming mobile phone OS, Windows Phone 7.

Todd Brix from Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 division told CNet the move was deliberate as consumers don’t use the function much.

“We try to anticipate what the user wants so copy and paste isn’t necessary.”

“We tried to focus on what the core use cases were. Certainly there will be some people that won’t be happy with some of those decisions.”

Microsoft said it would instead offer a ‘smart linking’ feature that enables users to double click information such as a phone number or email address to add it straight to their contacts section. However, there will be no way of copy and pasting when using the mobile version of Office.

Brix said the copy and paste function won’t be missed and the company wanted to concentrate on ensuring the tasks 80 percent of users wanted their phone to accomplish were completed to a high standard.