Windows Phone 7 Mango Heats Up With Plethora of Coming Handsets

From DailyTech: Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) is viewed by many as the slumbering giant of the smartphone market. With arguably the most innovative interface available on a smartphone today, the platform is mainly lacking in polish and selection.

The company's answer to those shortcomings is one word -- Mango. Mango -- the Windows Phone 7.1 update -- promises more of everything good about Windows 7; more polish (notably third party multi-tasking, third party tiles, streamlined Office software, and a dramatically improved HTML5-ready browser) and more phones.

As far as the more phones part of the equation, we're starting to get a feel for what's in store when Mango launches in September. Among the high-profile players to commit to Mango devices are Nokia Oyj. (HEL:NOK1V), Samsung Electronics Comp., Ltd. (SEO:005930), HTC Corp. (SEO:066570), LG Electronics (SEO:066570), Acer Inc. (TPE:2353), ZTE Corp. (SHE:000063), and Huawei technologies. Fujitsu Ltd. (TYO:6702) and Dell, Inc. (DELL) are also rumored to be preparing designs.

HTC, perhaps a bit concerned about its legal troubles with its Android OS line, is diving deep into Mango with multiple handsets. Two low-end models -- the keyboard equipped Prime and the touchscreen-only Ignite have been spotted after being accidentally posted by Dutch retailer Phone House. Both phones pack a lowly 800 MHz processor, 512MB of RAM, 5MP camera, and 3.7-inch LCD display.

Moving to the cream of the crop, HTC will be pushing the definition of a "smart phone" with its giant "Eternity" handset. With a whopping 4.7-inch SLCD screen, the Eternity is almost the Windows Phone 7 tablet which some users have demanded. It will pack a 1.5GHz single-core Snapdragon processor, 16GB of storage, an 8MP rear camera, and a 1.3MP front camera. This handset will surely prompt debate over whether slower Android phones with more cores are "better" or whether a faster single core is better suited for a smart phone. Images of the Eternity have already leaked.

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