A lot of hullabaloo has been created by Microsoft for its upcoming Windows Phone 7 operating system. The launch event that took place yesterday saw the unearthing of the Windows Phone 7 Global Portfolio. Nine fresh handsets with stunning form factors have been introduced; these will be coming through several mobile operators in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America.
The company claims that over 60 mobile operators in more than 30 countries worldwide will be the medium to bring Microsoft patrons the much coveted OS. The platform will come embedded in handsets from Dell, HTC, LG and Samsung, all of which house the Qualcomm high-performance Snapdragon processor. Just as we had previously reported the Phone 7 is packed with a multitude of services from Microsoft like Windows Live, Xbox Live, Zune, Microsoft Office Mobile, Bing, among others.
Xbox Live will bring along with it games from major developers including EA by this fall. EA too announced its first wave of titles featuring the popular Need for Speed Undercover, Tetris and The Sims 3, for this platform. A dedicated Search button has been added to make Bing for mobile easily accessible. Furthermore, the company boasts that it is the first time that music lovers will be able to indulge in the Zune experience.
“We have a beautiful lineup in this first wave of Windows Phone 7 handsets,” asserted Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer at Microsoft. “Microsoft and its partners are delivering a different kind of mobile phone and experience — one that makes everyday tasks faster by getting more done in fewer steps and providing timely information in a ‘glance and go’ format.”
Denizens of Australia will be able to procure Windows Phone 7 on handsets such as HTC 7 Mozart and LG Optimus 7Q coming through Telstra or the HTC 7 Trophy via Vodafone. Moving onto the next country in Asia-pacific where this OS will be available is Singapore. SingTel will be bringing the HTC HD 7 and the LG Optimus 7 to the country.
North America too will see a plethora of mobile phones offering Microsoft’s latest mobile platform. People in the U.S. can purchase the HTC Surround, Samsung Focus and LG Quantum through AT&T. T-Mobile USA will be proffering the HTC HD7 and Dell Venue Pro. Moving just a bit up north comes the frigid country of Canada, wherein the OS comes with HTC 7 Surround and LG Optimus 7 via Telus. For all those senors’ and senoritas’ down south in Mexico, América Móvil announces the LG Optimus 7.
Crossing the continent we reach Europe, a number of carriers are launching the new OS on several handsets. Citizens of the United Kingdom will be able to avail Windows Phone 7 enabled devices like HTC HD7 through O2, HTC 7 Mozart and Samsung Omnia 7 via Orange, coupled with Vodafone offering HTC 7 Trophy and LG Optimus 7. In Germany, O2 unveils the HTC HD7, Deutsche Telekom AG brings out HTC 7 Mozart and Samsung Omnia 7, while Vodafone doffs the silk off HTC 7 Trophy as well as LG Optimus 7.
On the other hand in France, mobile enthusiasts can procure HTC 7 Mozart and Samsung Omnia 7 through Orange, while SFR will proffer the Omnia 7 and the HTC 7 Trophy. Vodafone takes the wraps off the LG Optimus 7 for residents of Spain and Italy. Coming to Spain, LG Optimus 7, HTC HD7, and Samsung Omnia 7 retail through Movistar, whereas Vodafone also offers the HTC 7 Trophy.
Most of these Windows Phone 7 enabled handsets will commence shipping in time for this year’s holiday season, while some more will arrive next year. Additional handsets from Sprint and Verizon Wireless are anticipated to be launched. Select models can also be procured from Microsoft Store locations and Amazon.