Microsoft launched Windows Phone yesterday with nine handsets and a launch plan that includes 30 wireless carriers worldwide. Now that the press event is over and we have had some hands-on time with all nine handsets, it is now time to wrap-up the event and combine all of our information together into one comprehensive post. Let’s jump right in and get started with the new hardware that was launched yesterday.
HTC Surround
The HTC Surround is a music-centric handset that offers a 3.8-inch display (480×800) with 16GB on-board storage and a 1 GHz Qualcomm QSD8250 processor. The Surround sets itself apart from its WP7 brethren with a slideout speaker and Dolby surround sound support. It also offers a 5MP camera with autofocus, flash and 720P HD video recording. Featuring Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and Tri-band HSDPA 850/1900/2100, the Surround is slated to launch in North America on AT&T in the US and Telus in Canada. Check out our hands-on video below and read our full review here.
HTC HD7
The HTC HD7 is the king of Windows Phone with a 4.3-inch display that rivals its super-sized Android-based counterparts. The handset is geared for those who want media content on the go and includes Netflix, T-Mobile TV, and Slacker Radio. A kickstand is included for your video-watching convenience. The HD7 includes a 1 GHz Qualcomm QSD8250 processor, a 5-megapixel camera with dual-LED flash and 720P video recording, and 16GB of storage. With Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and dual-band HSPA 1700/2100, the HD7 will launch exclusively on T-Mobile in the US and a variety of carriers in Europe and Asia-Pacific. Check out our hands-on video below and read our full review here.
HTC Mozart
The HTC Mozart is an international handset with sleek styling and smooth lines. It has a unibody design and is crafted with anodized aluminum. The Mozart includes a 3.7-inch WVGA Super LCD Display, 1GHz processor, 8-megapixel camera with Xenon flash and 720P HD video recording, and both Dolby Mobile and SRS WOW HD surround sound. Slated for launch in Europe and Asia-Pacific only, the Mozart offers quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and dual-band HSPA/WCDMA (900/2100 MHz). Check out our hands-on video below and read our full review here.
HTC 7 Trophy
The HTC 7 Trophy is an international offering that retains the rock-solid build quality that characterizes HTC’s plethora of smartphones. The Trophy falls in the middle of the new Windows Phone lineup and has a 3.8-inch touchscreen display, 1GHz processor, Dolby Mobile with SRS surround sound, and a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and 720P video recording. The Trophy offers distinctly European quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and dual-band HSPA/WCDMA (900/2100 MHz). The handset is expected to debut with Vodafone in Germany, France, Spain, United Kingdom, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland. It will also land with M1 in Singapore. Check out our hands-on video below and read our full review here.
LG Quantum
The LG Quantum is on the lower end of the Windows Phone 7 spectrum and features a 3.5-inch (480×800) touchscreen display with a 1GHz Snapdragon processor. Designed for those who text and take pictures, the Quantum has a landscape QWERTY keyboard and a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and a 360-degree panorama mode. A suite of Office Mobile applications are included for those who work as hard as they play. Similar to the Optimus 7, the handset includes several LG-specific features including Play To (DLNA), Scan Search (AR app), and a unique voice-to-text feature. An AT&T and Bell exclusive that will launch only in North America, the Quantum includes quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and tri-band HSDPA /HSUPA 900/1900/2100. It is also known as the Optimus 7Q. Check out our hands-on video below and read our full review here.
LG Optimus 7
The Optimus 7 is a mid-level Windows Phone handset that offers a 3.8-inch WVGA display, 1GHz processor, 16GB of on-board storage and a 5-megapixel camera with 720P recording and a 360-degree panorama photo mode. The handset includes several LG-specific features including Play To, Scan Search, and a unique voice-to-text feature. The Play To application uses DLNA to stream photos, music, and video from your handset directly to your HDTV, while ScanSearch is an augmented reality app designed to bring shopping, dining, weather, and more to your phone. The Optimus 7 is the big brother to the Quantum and will launch in North America on Telus and in both Europe and Asia-Pacific. Check out our hands-on video below and read our full review here.
Samsung Focus
The Samsung Focus is a fun offering from Samsung with an impressive 4-inch Super AMOLED display with 480×800 resolution that sets it apart from its competition. It also includes a 1GHz Qualcomm QSD8250 processor, 8GB of on-board storage, and a 5-megapixel camera with 720P HD video recording. It is also reportedly the only handset to launch with microSD expansion that will augment the on-board memory. The Samsung Focus will be available only in North America on AT&T and Rogers. Check out our hands-on video below and read our full review here.
Dell Venue Pro
The Dell Venue Pro is a whole different breed of Window Phone handset. It is the only the one to offer a portrait sliding QWERTY keyboard on top of its 4.1-inch scratch and shatter resistant touchscreen display. The Venue Pro also includes a 5-megapixel camera and a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor. It operates on GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and HSDPA/HSUPA 900/1700/2100. Is a T-Mobile only handset that, unfortunately, does not offer HSPA+ connectivity. It will be available in time for holidays directly from Dell and other retailers that offer T-Mobile service. Check out our hands-on video below and read our full review here.
HTC 7 Pro
The HTC 7 Pro is the only handset introduced as part of Microsoft’s big event that will not debut until 2011. The HTC Pro is slated to land with Sprint and is an excellent first Windows Phone 7 handset for the US wireless carrier. Spec-wise, the HTC Pro features a 3.6-inch screen with WVGA resolution, 1Ghz Snapdragon processor, a 5-megapixel camera with 720p HD video recording and 16 GB of storage. Also notice the sweet QWERTY keyboard below. Doesn’t it make you wish 2011 was here already? (Hands-on video coming soon)
Samsung Omnia 7
The Samsung Omnia 7 is a mid to high-end offering from Samsung that builds upon Samsung’s successful Galaxy S line. It offers 4-inch super AMOLED display with WVGA (800×480) resolution and a 1GHz Qualcomm QSD8250 processor, an unusual choice for Sammy as its Galaxy S series of handsets is powered by Samsung’s homegrown 1GHz Hummingbird processor. The Omnia 7 has all the accoutrements one would expect from a high-end smartphone including a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and 720P recording, 8 or 16GB on-board storage, quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz) and tri-band HSUPA/HSDPA (900/1900/2100MHz). The Omnia 7 will be widely available in Europe where I expect it will sell briskly.
