No exclusivity deals for Microsoft as Windows Phone 7 taps up all 5 UK networks
Shunning the previous model practised by iPhone, Microsoft has revealed Windows Phone 7 will be available on all five major UK networks when it launches later this year.
While Orange has been named as the platform's official launch partner, O2, 3 Mobile, Vodafone and T-Mobile will all also sell devices running the OS as Microsoft sets out to recapture market share from Apple and Android.
What's more, Microsoft has also secured deals with the two major mobile retailers on these shores - Phones4U and Carphone Warehouse both named as Windows Phone 7 partners.
Partner power
"Following our announcement at Mobile World Congress that Orange will be our lead partner, it is wonderful now to have all of the UKs network operators supporting the launch of Windows Phone 7," said Alex Reeve, UK director of Microsoft's mobile business group.
"This means we can provide network choice and also a range of phones across networks for customers to choose from, all with the power of Windows Phone 7. We are thrilled to be working in partnership with these major industry players."
The platform's launch in the US won't be quite as universal, however, with Microsoft having previously confirmed Windows Phone 7 will be GSM only in 2010 essentially blocking operators Verizon and Sprint at launch.
GSM or bust
"For the worldwide market, the vast majority of phones are GSM phones, so we focused on GSM first and then plan to deliver an update that will have great CDMA support in the first half of 2011," senior product manager Greg Sullivan told CNET.
"That's device availability in the first half and we're very confident of that. That's probably a conservative estimate."
AT&T is expected to be Windows Phone 7's official launch partner in the States, with T-Mobile also offering support.