Three major handset manufacturers this morning revealed plans to release new devices based on Microsoft's next-generation Windows Phone 7 handsets into the Australian market over the next few months through partnerships with Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.
Overnight, Microsoft supreme Steve Ballmer fully revealed the new Microsoft mobile platform for the first time. But Australian consumers had to wait until an event in Sydney this morning to find out what exactly they could buy and when.
At the event, HTC announced it would launch its HTC 7 Mozart device with a 3.7'³ display, 8 megapixel camera and 8GB internal memory on Telstra's Next G network from October 21 for zero dollars upfront on a 24-month plan for $49 a month. HTC also announced another handset will be launched in January next year '” the HTC HD 7.
The HTC 7 Trophy will be available through Vodafone's network this year, although details are scant on the launch so far.
Samsung announced its Omnia 7 handset, which features a 4'³ super AMOLED touch screen and a 1GHz CPU will be available through Optus in late October, for zero dollars upfront on the $79 Optus Cap plan for consumers and zero dollars upfront on the $79 Business Complete Ultimate plan for business. Both plans are on a 24 month contract with a minimum spend of $1896.
