The 9 New Windows Phone 7 Handsets
In conjunction with the official launch of Windows Phone 7 today, manufacturers unveiled nine new phones that will be available with Windows Phone 7. Here's a quick rundown of each one and the networks each will be appearing on.
First, a note. Microsoft has admitted it is completely revamping the Windows Phone 7 operating system for CDMA phones. That means there will be no Windows Phone 7 devices on Verizon for a while, and that's also why none of the following phones are available on Verizon. The rest (unless noted) will be available when Windows Phone 7 devices go on sale.
Smartphone manufacturer HTC was certainly prepared for the Windows Phone 7 launch . The company has made five of the nine launch phones, all branded as HTC 7.
HTC 7 Mozart
The Mozart has a 3.7-inch display, 8-megapixel camera with Xenon flash, 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, 512MB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS. There's also "virtual surround sound" technology in order to make the sound from the standard speakers a little more impressive. The HTC 7 Mozart will be available on the T-Mobile network.
HTC 7 HD7
The HD7 is a massive phone that looks pretty familiar. That's because it's closely related to the HTC HD2 that has been previously released with Windows Mobile and Android on a couple carriers. The HD7, aside from the addition of Windows Phone 7, hasn't changed too much. There's a 1GHz processor, 16GB of storage, 5 megapixel camera (which can shoot 720p high definition video) and the kickstand that is becoming increasingly familiar on HTC phones. The screen is by far the most impressive feature, though, measuring in at 4.3 inches. The HTC HD7 will be available on the T-Mobile network.
HTC 7 Surround
The Surround is a slider phone … but not. It slides only a little to allow access to the kickstand in back and bigger speakers in front. There is no physical keyboard like those found in most sliders. It has a 3.8-inch display (400 x 800 pixel resolution), 8GB of storage, 512MB of RAM, 1GHz processor, a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash (and can also record 720p high definition video), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS. As the speakers and slightly larger screen attest, this device was intended for media-heavy use. The HTC 7 Surround will be available on the AT&T network.
HTC 7 Pro
The HTC 7 Pro is the only true slider phone from HTC. It has a physical keyboard and the screen angles up when the phone is opened up. The inside of the phone, however, is little different from the rest of the HTC phones: 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 512MB RAM, 16GB of storage and a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash (also capable of 720p video). It has a slightly more powerful battery than its brothers. The HTC 7 Pro won't be available until early 2011 and will appear on the Sprint network.
HTC Trophy
The Trophy is another standard HTC Windows 7 Phone (8GB storage, 512MB RAM, 3.8-inch screen, yadda yadda) but it will only be available in Europe.
LG has announced two handsets that will feature Microsoft's new mobile operating system, but went a little light on the details.
LG Quantum
The Quantum is a vanilla slider phone with a physical keyboard, 1GHz processor, 3.5-inch display, 16GB of storage and 5 megapixel camera that can shoot 720p video. It will be available on the AT&T network.
LG Optimus 7
The Optimus 7 is much better looking than the Quantum but aside from the aesthetics and lack of physical keyboard, it is almost identical. It has a 1GHz processor, 3.8-inch screen, 16GB storage and a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash (no 720p video, though). So far it has only been announced for carriers outside the U.S.
Samsung and Dell each had a single smartphone to announce for the launch of Windows Phone 7.
Dell Venue Pro
Dell's Windows Phone 7 device (previously rumored as the Lightning ) is certainly one of the sleekest of the bunch, and it has a slightly different form factor too. It's a vertical slider phone, meaning you keep it upright to slide out the physical keyboard instead of turning it on its side. Its screen is also quite large (4.1 inches), sports the standard 1GHz processor and packs a 5-megapixel camera. The Dell Venue Pro will be available to T-Mobile customers.
Samsung Focus
The Samsung Focus also has one of the larger screens in this bunch of Windows Phone 7 devices, but it also happens to be the thinnest. It sports a 4-inch display, 1GHz processor, 8GB of storage (with a microSD card slot for memory expansion) and a 5-megapixel camera. The Samsung Focus also includes a low-resolution, front-facing camera. It will launch on the AT&T network.
