LG Windows Phone 7 tips up

PHONE MAKERS are lining up to get their Windows Phone 7 devices leaked, with the latest LG E900 tipping up today.

The E900 looks to have more than a dash of the HTC Hero about it, sporting clean lines throughout. LG gave the device a 3.7-inch screen with a Polish Android site reporting it has a 1GHz Snapdragon chip, though another report suggests it might sport a new 1.3GHz chip, which should just fly with Microsoft's legendary lean operating system requirements (*cough*).

There are the usual accoutrements of proximity and light sensors along with a microSD slot for external expansion, but the feature most will be interested in is the fact that LG's E900 will be running Windows Phone 7.

Microsoft's upcoming mobile operating system is looking close to done, judging by various demonstrations floating around the web. The operating system offers Microsoft one last ditch chance to salvage its mobile operating system and tattered reputation before smartphones running Google's Android OS take over.

This isn't LG's first Windows Phone 7 handset that has tipped up, with another device sporting a QWERTY keyboard having been shown off over six months ago. Microsoft will be hoping that more of these 'leaks' will occur, helping it build up a head of steam prior to launch of its OS. The problem is, none of the phones so far exhibit the 'wow' factor needed to divert buyers' interest from Apple's Iphone and smartphones running Android.

While LG's E900 might not set pulses racing, it does go to show that Microsoft has managed to convince another mass-market phone maker to use its operating system. All it needs now is to get the launch right, something even spending hundreds of millions can't guarantee. µ