Microsoft have just announced that Windows Phone 7 Will Hit Australian shores on October 21. That’s nine days away, people. Who’s excited?
There will also be 50 Xbox Live games available at launch, showing exactly where they’re pitching this platform.
But what about the phones?
Telstra are launching the HTC Mozart next Thursday for $0 upfront on a $49 cap plan on Telstra next week. The HD7 will be available early next year.
In November, they’ll launch the LG Optimus 7 on a new $129 cap plan with unlimited calls and texts, plus 3GB of data for consumers. The LG will also be available on a $79 cap plan with $0 up front for business customers.
Samsung have also confirmed the Omnia 7 for Australia, exclusive to Optus later this month. It will be available on a $79 cap plan for $0 up front.
Not to be left out, VHA has just announced the HTC 7 Trophy selling from Oct 21, although details are still to be announced.
FJC
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 9:14 AMI am, but the handsets coming to Australia doesnt consist of the Samsung Omnia7 which I’ll probably have to buy off eBay.
Stephen Earp
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 9:52 AM?? quote: “Samsung have also confirmed the Omnia 7 for Australia, exclusive to Optus..”
FJC
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 10:11 AMLol they just updated that. Awesome! Though heres hoping we get the 16gb model and can buy it outright.
Nazxul360
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 12:43 PMI’m with FJC – I want that Samsung one. I’m especially interested now that Optus have announced that they’ll have a promotion where they’ll be bundling it with Kinect!! :O
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/10/optus-bundling-wp7-phones-with-xbox-kinect/
Tom Tucker
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 9:58 AMCan you line up at a Microsoft Store?
No?
If I go to my local telco retail presence, will the phone be working so I can have a full experience before I buy it, just like at the Apple store?
No?
Can I tether my PC or Mac to utilise my HSDPA internet connection?
No?
Well, 3 Nos means No – I wont be buying one.
Market has changed, get with it.
Bob Bludger
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 10:15 AMYou can line up at a telstra/optus store if you want, just like with the iPhone.
You can go play with the phones at a telstra/optus store if you want, just like with the iPhone
Tethering was only available on jailbroken iPhones when they came out… only a matter of time till its available.
Trolling comes easy I see :)
MDolley
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 10:16 AMSo a key factor for you is being able to line up like a crazed fanboy? Interesting. I personally don’t need the applause of twenty year olds with skinny jeans and an Apple shirt when I make purchases.
T-Life stores have working models of phones. Most carriers also have demo units available even if not on display
FJC
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 10:26 AMLol you say the market has changed only because the iPhone4 has finally caught up in terms of features. And things such as tethering, no one i know uses that (except me on rare occassions)
Considering Android doesn’t have its own store for people to line up and try handsets, can you explain how Android’s marketshare is catching up to iPhone at an incredible rate?
Lack of tethering didn’t stop the iPhone selling millions, and same regarding lack of a store for Android.
attila
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 10:33 AM“s it made by Apple?”
“No?”
Why bother with the charade of pretending you would consider one?
nizmo_man
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 10:43 AMI can use my Touch Pro as a modem (connected to my laptop).
Benji
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 11:16 AMWhy would you want to line up? I hate lines.
Jonathan Row
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 11:19 AMVodafone stores almost always have working demo models of their handsets (all the major ones anyway) so you should be able to go in and try out a HTC Trophy. Not sure about the other carriers though.
Nat
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 2:42 PMLittle Tommy Tucker,
1. Who wants to line up at a phone store like a dumb groupie. Get a life!
2. If you go to a Telstra T-life store most of the phones on display are working.
I’ve recently tried several handsets there.
3. You will be able to tether your PC. Aussie phone companies are working on removing the USA restrictions now and it won’t be long – say Jan 2011 at the latest.
So, wrong on all 3 counts.
matt
Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 2:26 AM“If I go to my local telco retail presence, will the phone be working so I can have a full experience before I buy it, just like at the Apple store?”
lol, guess you aren’t a fan of the ipad either. you need a PC AND an INTERNET connection just to turn the damn thing ON!?
talk about a mood killer… and this, from the thing meant to replace laptops…
Cameron
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 10:13 AMNah too restricted for my liking. If I’m paying that much (over 24 month) for a phone I’d like it to actually be something I can use how I wish, without being approved by Microsoft.
Martin Olminkhof
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 10:23 AMwould love to grab a “7 Trophy” but only unlocked
Benji
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 11:34 AMGuess I’ll wait until the HD7 comes out. Any word on a Zune Australian store?
Jubbin Grewal
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 12:51 PMI have the Zune software installed on my laptop, and I’m looking at it seems there’s about 50 apps in the store for WP7 so far.. BUT if you can buy them I don’t know.. least the prices are out.
As for Zune working in Australia.. I’d say within the month?
And Yea.. why the fk would I want to lineup (at 5am no less) like an uber loser just to get a phone. Walk in.. walk out.. get my item. That’s how I roll.
I wouldn’t line up for Apple, I won’t line up for Windows Phone 7′s.
Benji
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 2:11 PMThanks, I had a look at the Zune site also and could see movie content, can I assume music will follow? I imagine agreements with studios and record companies take some time. Although Apple appeared to sort it out very quickly.
As for the lining up thing, I think I will need to join the Apple Cult – they seem to be able to turn absolute negatives into positives. NSW RTA should flash “Apple event” signs in all peak hour traffic.
PhuzZy
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 2:13 PMI’m down for one on Day One…
Zune 4.7 software is out NOW. but no music store (we do get movies now on PC/Phone though)
Benji
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 2:26 PMSo are there plans for a music store?
Mitch
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 2:52 PMI thought about upgrading to a WP7 phone, but the problem is you can only get apps for it from the official app store (without jailbreaking it, when that becomes available). Sound familiar?
Apple has received criticism from all over the place for the locked down nature of the iOS apps, so why would Microsoft do the same thing with an OS that they’re trying to take customers back from Apple with?
If they relaxed it so you could install whatever apps you want, I’d get it, but they didn’t, so I’m going Android.
Simon Reidy
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 5:05 PMI agree. The only reason I’m still using an iPhone is because of the existence of jailbreaking. Once jailbroken it’s completely customisable, configurable and feels like your own phone (rather than Steve Jobs’).
It’s only a matter of time before someone finds an exploit in the WP7 OS. When that happens I’ll be very interested in a WP7 handset as I really like many aspects of the OS, especially the new metro UI.
matt
Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 2:29 AMI guess… if your happy to reward the companies with your hard earned dollars for going out of there way to destroy all the reasons you actually have for buying their stuff… should be giving your money to the jailbreakers instead :D
though from a purely practical standpoint, I would have to agree: jailbroken iphone > android.
chris
Monday, October 25, 2010 at 12:30 PMHi,
Deos anyone know where the HTC Trophy is?
It was meant to for sale through VHA on the 21st October?