Microsoft confirms Windows Phone 7 manufacturers: ASUS, Dell, HTC, LG, and Samsung all on board

Microsoft is no stranger to having partners galore in the phone business, but its lineup of manufacturers for the upcoming, surprisingly promising Windows Phone 7 launch is no less impressive. After plenty of rumoring, Microsoft has confirmed that Dell and HTC will be making Windows Phone 7 phones, in addition to ASUS, LG, and Samsung who had already been confirmed. All of these companies should have their stamp on hardware by the end of the year, with the launch of the OS still vaguely slated for the "holidays." We have no doubt that all five manufacturers can build some compelling, sexy hardware, but we're particularly enthused to see Dell really getting into the game after the impressive Streak and that drool-worthy leak a little while back. It's a good time to be alive if you're a person who buys or uses phones.

[wookieecrisp Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:15PM]

I'm interested in the Dell phones, they REALLY look great.

[Bryant Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:18PM]

@wookieecrisp

I'm excited for Dell and WP7 because Dell proved itself fully capable of making fantastic hardware (a la Streak), and Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 licensing rules prohibit Dell from making a crappy UI on top.

In other words, Dell's hardware glory + Windows Phone 7's awesomeness = win.

[ruby Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:19PM]

@wookieecrisp
agreed.. and I hope Sprint gets some of these nicer ones.

[AwlAmericanDawg Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:19PM]

@wookieecrisp agreed!

[Ardentra Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:21PM]

If those Dell's include Gorilla Glass like their Streak does then I am for sure getting a Dell. I have been through 4 HTC phones and they just seem cheaply built and don't hold up very well over time (yes I am looking at you Touch Pro 2 and EVO!). Hopefully Dell is going to release some Sprint goodness too!

Dude! I am getting a Dell!

[Templarian Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:22PM]

@ruby, hopefully these Dells are on multiple carriers. I really want one on Sprint if not, HTC will probably be releasing a 4G one hopefully.

[MGore32 Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:23PM]

@wookieecrisp
loving the phones but we need memory card support.

[shotta Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:23PM]

It's on bitches.

[POZ Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:23PM]

@wookieecrisp - I was thinking the same thing. The Streak is really nice. I mean, look at that thing with the dell logo... its smoooooooth.

I am looking forward to Win7. I may need to be one of those jackasses with a phone from each os. That would mean 3!

[chrisabr Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:26PM]

@POZ hell yeah, I want that one with QWERTY keyboard. I had HTC Legend for past 3 months, and i just HATE the on-screen keyboard. can't wait to change phones.

[Phuk0ff Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:28PM]

@wookieecrisp
I was surprised at how cool all of those phones look.
Then I realized they're all the same phone just taken from different angles.

[Roger Moore Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:29PM]

@wookieecrisp
Dell is the only company I know that has the infrastructure in place to make the hardware that can rival Apples. I cannot wait for Dell to start rolling out these phones loaded with Windows 7 and Android.

[PapaPump Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:36PM]

@Roger Moore

Dell's hardware has never rivaled Apple's.

Okay, I lied. The 30" display was pretty nice. Same guts.

That being said, I would buy the Lightning in an instant if they choose the right carrier (you know who I mean). If well executed, that will be the phone to have next year.

[Prime First Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:42PM]

@wookieecrisp Can't wait for WP7! On the EVO right now but hoping MS does well. Wonder if HTC will try to modify the UI...

[Nitesh Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:43PM]

@wookieecrisp
I know! Their whole storm metaphor lineup looks great, ie the Lightning, Thunder, Smoke, etc.

[spartandre217 Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:46PM]

@Bryant
Provided the built quality is nice, the multimedia and social features decent and WinPho 7 not a complete F*** up then I look forward to these devices.
Competition's looking really nice at this point bring on Q4 2010!!
MeeGo, Gingerbread, WinPho7, (Hpalm?? maybe?). So many many options!

[reversii Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:48PM]

@wookieecrisp If only the renders looked as good as the real thing.
But here's to Microsoft and their revolutionary new product. I really hope MS succeeds in this space where they have lost out repeatedly to various competitors.

[Plazmic Flame Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:48PM]

@Bryant

Now if only Dell could release products in a timely manner... as awesome as the Dell Streak is.... it STILL isn't anywhere to be found in the good'ole US of A for purchase, not even from Dell themselves.

[SCXFAN Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:58PM]

@wookieecrisp

Lets wait until we see the final versions.

Dell rarely makes anything that looks great.

[ssguy Posted Jul 22nd 2010 2:02PM]

@wookieecrisp

So I guess Bootcamp will eventually be released for the eyePhone; enabling people to install WP7 and use their phones for some productive work.

[chops Posted Jul 22nd 2010 2:10PM]

@ruby it's a na for sprint. watch the video in the wp7 site.

[JoshUng Posted Jul 22nd 2010 2:16PM]

@wookieecrisp They do look nice, but I don't know about the slider. It just looks like a vertical slide would make the phone feel strange, or perhaps the keyboard will feel cramped. Obviously I have no idea how it would really feel, but I would really need to check out the feel before making a decision.

[marxman Posted Jul 22nd 2010 2:26PM]

@wookieecrisp Palm Pre keyboard some MOAR!?!?!

[dhamp2g Posted Jul 22nd 2010 2:47PM]

@ruby I don't think I will ever own another Windows phone they have to have a world changing OS and I don't think that's gonna hapn. all my computers are MAC and my phone is now the EVO (dye 2 my iPhone) and I have an iPad I swore to never use windows again.

[Ankur Vashi Posted Jul 22nd 2010 2:48PM]

@PapaPump i have no idea who you mean.... sprint? cause thats my carrier of choice

[loocas Posted Jul 22nd 2010 3:00PM]

I'm still hoping for a HTC HD2 WP7 ROM to show up... however, if not, I'll most likely go for this amazingly looking Dell as I'm interested in HW keyboards too!

(Are you listening, HTC?)

[Outsider Posted Jul 22nd 2010 3:14PM]

HTC+WP7=Nerdgasm/0.

Oh shi--

[writer anonymous Posted Jul 22nd 2010 3:31PM]

@Ardentra
yes, the gorilla glass is going to be more durable than the htc phonesm but if your slandering htc and saying there phones don't hold up im wondering what type of phone you are using until you get a phone with gorilla glass because the only phones with high technology that can fight for the stand of durability with htc is nokia.
the touch pro 2 is hella durable!!!
(but the gorilla glass will be better)

[Kbanksjr Posted Jul 22nd 2010 3:54PM]

@wookieecrisp
I dont know whats going on at Dell but they are looking pretty good recently, I have my eyes on the Streak, It would be sweet to get Win Phone 7 on one of those

[TareG Posted Jul 22nd 2010 4:39PM]

@wookieecrisp

While I like the single-hand usability of this Dell Phone, it won't help you play emulators as much as a landscape phone...

[SoCoolCurt Posted Jul 22nd 2010 5:07PM]

@PapaPump

i'm really hoping for Verizon on this one, but i read before that it had AT&T bands on the leaked spec sheet. i'm hesitant to ditch HTC and the XDA community but the Lightning is pretty much EXACTLY what i've been asking for in a phone. we'll see during the "holidays" i guess.

[Ardentra Posted Jul 22nd 2010 5:13PM]

@writer anonymous TP2 -- cracked screen and all. I definitely would not call HTC durable. I have had two HTC SMT5600, the original Tilt, and now the Touch Pro 2. They just don't hold up that well. All of my HTC's excepting the TP2 had the usb connectors go bad. My tilt's screen broke twice. My TP2's screen broke but the LCD still works.

[Wesscoast Posted Jul 22nd 2010 5:19PM]

@Roger Moore

Pfft.. What? What Infrastructure... Dell hasn't been a strong competitor for about 5 years, Apple could buy them 5 times over easily

[loocas Posted Jul 22nd 2010 7:10PM]

@Outsider OH MY GOD!! Did you just divide by ZERO!!!!!1111oneeleven

One helluva nerdgasm I say!

[SmoothDouglas Posted Jul 22nd 2010 7:35PM]

@MGore32 An SD slot would be nice, but storing images, videos, and documents on SkyDrive will be SWEET! No need to have them locally on your phone.

[SometimesJones Posted Jul 22nd 2010 7:58PM]

@ssguy

Nah. No iPhone user would want that messy Metro crap- and lack of any type of 3rd party multi-app'ing.

[MicrosoftOwns Posted Jul 22nd 2010 8:30PM]

@wookieecrisp
i like how the article failed to mention that hp is no longer a launch partner

[ltam20 Posted Jul 22nd 2010 8:34PM]

@SometimesJones Actually WP 7 does practically the same 3rd party multi tasking as the Iphone. They just don't call it multi tasking because it isn't true multitasking.

[Mic2000 Posted Jul 23rd 2010 4:39AM]

@wookieecrisp sexy as hell!

[Bryant Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:15PM]

That Dell will get my hard-earned cash.

[cool8man Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:33PM]

@Bryant

Dude, you're getting a Dell.

[PapaPump Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:38PM]

@cool8man I miss that kid.

[tonyprince Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:41PM]

@PapaPump wasnt he arrested for some drug related issue?

[PapaPump Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:42PM]

@(Unverified) which makes him that much more awesome.

we all knew it.

[NHAnimator Posted Jul 22nd 2010 3:02PM]

@PapaPump

Dude, you're getting a cell.

[lamerz Posted Jul 22nd 2010 3:32PM]

@NHAnimator That works in just so many ways.

[Bryant Posted Jul 22nd 2010 3:34PM]

@NHAnimator

He's getting a cell from Dell on Bell?

[sonicyoof Posted Jul 22nd 2010 3:40PM]

@Bryant

All it needs is to be unlocked to run Android as well so that when WP7 is launched I won't have to choose!

[Grubasaurus Rex Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:15PM]

Dell Lightning... (Homer Voice)

[finnith Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:28PM]

Yea, the Thunder and Lightning look like really good phones. I just hope I can expand the amount of storage.

I bet these phones will take forever to come out in Canada though.