HTC, one of the world’s premier makers of smartphones, said recently that it would released its phones based on the Microsoft Windows Phone 7 operating system by the end of the year. Considering that HTC is usually among the first to adopt new platforms, such promise may indicate that other makers will launch next-gen Windows phones even slower.

“HTC views Microsoft as a strategic partner and Windows Phone 7 as a promising smart phone operating system platform; and we plan to rollout our first Windows Phone 7 based smart phone before the end of year,” a statement by HTC reads.

Relatively late arrival of Windows Phone 7-based phones compared to the formal announcement in February, 2010, may be explained with the fact that Microsoft has reportedly imposed very specific and strict hardware requirements for Windows Phone 7 smartphones. Moreover, there are three types of form-factors for Windows Phone 7-series operating system-based mobile phones that will feature different hardware.

“We are talking about three form factors at this stage. There's going to be one available at launch, which is big touch screen, gigahertz processor, dedicated graphics chip. And only touch, no keyboard entry. Chassis two is going to be slide with a keyboard, so looking more like the Palm Treo, touch screen plus a QWERTY keyboard. Chassis three, I don't think we've released any data as about yet but they're the three in total we're going to have. Candybar? I'd say so,” said a Microsoft representative from Australia.

More precise requirements for a high-end Windows Phone 7 phone include four-point multitouch, GPS, FM radio, a high-resolution 800x480 screen, accelerometer, and a 5MP camera, specific microprocessor and graphics chip requirements.

The reasons why Microsoft decided to enforce specific hardware requirements for Windows Phone 7 handsets are easy to understand. Microsoft does not control specifications of actual cell phones, but it is always blamed for poor experience, meanwhile, handsets from companies like Apple or Nokia are praised for excellent functionality and responsibility.

Tags: Windows Phone, Windows, Microsoft