Windows 7 mobile unveiled; first phones announced

By Laura Khalil October 11, 2010

The Windows 7 release marks a major upgrade for the software giant. Microsoft, once one of the key players in the mobile industry, saw its star fall over the past few years with the release of Apple and Android-based smartphones. Microsoft’s share of the smartphone operating system continued to drop in the second quarter of 2010 by market fell by more than half to 5.5%, according to market research firm Canalys.

In a bid to take back market share and reclaim its former losses, Microsoft announced several new phones that would be carrying the Windows 7 mobile operating system.

Recommended Videos

AT&T Inc. displayed three of its Windows 7 devices including the Samsung Focus, the LG Quantum, and the HTC Surround, which are priced at $199.99 with a two-year service contract. They will be on sale starting the week of Nov. 8.

T-Mobile USA, which will launch its phones after AT&T, is scheduled to show off its own Windows Phone 7 device later Monday. T-Mobile plans to launch its Windows HD7 device in mid-November.

HTC is putting a lot of trust in the success of Windows 7, revealing five smartphones with Microsoft’s new operating system. Its phones will be available by late October for distribution in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

“We at HTC can create the best Android phone and we can create the best Windows Phone 7 phone and let the consumer decide,” said Peter Chou, HTC’s CEO, during a press briefing in Taipei.

The include the HTC 7 Surround, HTC 7 Mozart, HTC 7 Trophy, HTC 7 Pro and HTC HD7.

In the US, T-Mobile will be carrying the HTC HD7. While pricing has not yet been released, it is expected to arrive on the market in mid-November. It includes a 4.3 inch touch screen and what T-Mobile claims to be the largest screen for a Windows mobile device in the US. It also includes a 1GHz processor, 16GB in storage and 5-megapixel camera.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Laura is a tech reporter for Digital Trends, the editor of Dorkbyte and a science blogger for PBS. She's been named one of…

Mobile

5 carriers you should use instead of T-Mobile

When it comes to performance, quality, and reliability, T-Mobile is undoubtedly one of the best carriers in the U.S. It offers the fastest speeds and the broadest coverage with reasonably priced plans that include quite a few perks.

However, that may still add up to more than you want to pay; top-notch performance comes with a higher price tag attached. The good news is that T-Mobile is far from the only game in town. In addition to the other two of the big three U.S. carriers -- AT&T and Verizon -- there are dozens of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) that piggyback on the big carrier networks with more affordable plans that offer the same coverage and great performance at a fraction of the price. You’ll get fewer perks, and customer service may not be as responsive, but those may be reasonable tradeoffs for how much you’ll save.

Mobile

The best cheap phones in 2024: our 9 favorites for tight budgets

The OnePlus 12R lying on a book with its screen turned on.

Don’t want to spend $1,000 or more on a new smartphone? We don’t blame you. The good news is there are plenty of models available for half that price, but the trick is knowing which cheap smartphone is worth buying. After all, just because you’re not spending flagship phone money doesn’t mean you want to be stuck with a phone that's rubbish. There are plenty of options out there for the best cheap phones!

We’ve collected the models that still give you great performance, good cameras, the right connectivity, and often a desirable design and brand name too — all for less money than you may expect. Cheap phones in 2024 will surprise you with their strong performance, making them more than capable of playing the latest games; plus they have batteries that will last you at least a day.

Mobile

The best prepaid phone plans in 2023: the 6 best ones

There was once a time when prepaid cell phone plans meant getting only basic calling features and limited data. Thankfully, that’s changed. Many of today’s prepaid plans offer many of the same core features of the best cell postpaid phone plans, including high-speed 5G data, unlimited calling and texting, and even international roaming — all without the need to commit to a contract.

Not only that, but you can often find prepaid plans at far lower prices, even if you’re only setting up a single line. While traditional carrier plans give their best discounts for families and other groups, many prepaid plans lead with their best price right out of the gate.