Aussie carriers jump on Windows Phone 7
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.
LG Optimus 7 (Credit: LG)
Overnight, Microsoft supremo Steve Ballmer fully revealed the new Microsoft mobile platform for the first time. However, 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-inch display, 8-megapixel camera and 8GB internal memory on Telstra's Next G network from 21 October for zero dollars upfront on a 24-month plan running at AU$49 a month. HTC also announced that another handset will be launched in January next year — the HTC HD 7.
The HTC 7 Trophy will be available through Vodafone on 21 October. The telco has not released pricing or plan information as yet.
Samsung announced its Omnia 7 handset, which features a 4-inch super AMOLED touchscreen and a 1GHz CPU. Omnia 7 will be available through Optus in late October, for zero dollars upfront on the AU$79 Optus Cap plan for consumers and zero dollars upfront on the AU$79 Business Complete Ultimate plan for business. Both plans are on a 24-month contract with a minimum spend of AU$1896.
The LG Optimus 7, which has a 3.8-inch display, will be available exclusively on the Optus network in late October for nothing upfront on an AU$79 cap plan for consumers and nothing upfront on an AU$79 Business Complete Ultimate plan for business customers. Both plans are on 24-month contract with a minimum spend of AU$1896.
LG also announced a second handset on Telstra's network — the LG Optimus 7Q. The device comes with a full QWERTY keyboard and will launch in November on a $0 upfront AU$129 cap plan with unlimited national calls, SMS and MMS with 3GB data per month on a 24-month contract.
The Optimus 7Q handset is available for business customers on the AU$79 Business Mobile Cap plan, which includes AU$750 worth of standard voice, video, text and MMS "to any Australian network" and 500MB of data per month. Customers will receive a bonus 500MB per month if signed before 30 November. A range of Telstra Enterprise and Government plans are also available for the 7Q.
Telstra confirmed that the handsets will be available to buy outright and unlocked; however, further information could not be provided at the time.
"With Windows Phone 7 we have redesigned the smartphone. The focus is on people and what we do everyday — the friends we connect with, the games we play and the way we interact with each other — making everyday tasks easier and faster," said Tracey Fellows, managing director, Microsoft Australia, who appeared to place a focus on Telstra's partnership with Microsoft on the new handsets.
"We are delighted to have Telstra as our major launch partner for Windows Phone 7," she said at the launch. "Telstra's market reach and leading Next G network will be key ingredients for Windows Phone 7's success in Australia."