Windows Phone 7 has landed. On Monday, the first three Windows Phone 7 devices went on sale in the U.S. through AT&T and T-Mobile USA stores.
The three phones are the Samsung Focus and HTC Surround through AT&T, and the HTC HD7 from T-Mobile. Microsoft said the new Phone 7 devices “offer a different kind of phone experience designed to get users in, out and back to life.” Phone 7 handsets went on sale last month in New Zealand, Europe and the Asian Pacific.
Ending ‘Bad Mobile Phone Behavior’
The HTC HD7 offers a 4.3-inch, 800×480 touchscreen, internal storage up to 8GB, 720p HD video, and a five-megapixel camera. The Surround features a slide-out speaker for sharing music, internal storage up to 16GB, and 720p HD video. The Focus has a four-inch Super AMOLED display, a five-megapixel camera with panorama and other enhanced photo options, internal storage up to 8GB, and 720p HD video.
Both the HD7 and the Surround have a kickstand for hands-free viewing. The LG Quantum and Dell Venue Pro are expected to be released in the next few weeks.
Microsoft’s marketing approach is that Phone 7 devices will free the country of “bad mobile-phone behavior.” A new survey conducted by the company and released Monday found that three-quarters of adults rank poor phone etiquette in their “top 10 pet peeves.”
To counter such boorish behavior, the company said, the new phones are designed to use good smartphone design to get things done faster, so people can get back to their lives and, apparently, their otherwise good behavior.
Avi Greengart, an analyst with industry research firm Current Analysis, said the new phones are “good and unique,” although he added that he hasn’t seen “anyone lining up around the block to buy them.”
Some ‘Utterly Unique’ Aspects
Greengart pointed out that there are some “utterly…