Europe to Get Windows Phone 7 Oct. 21, Ahead of US, says Report

Phones running Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 might be available in Europe almost three weeks before the new smartphone platform lands on American store shelves. France, Germany, the U.K., and Spain will reportedly start selling Windows Phone 7 devices on October 21, the blog Neowin reports based on discussions with anonymous sources. Meanwhile, Windows-focused blogger and author Paul Thurrott reports that a "very reliable source" says Windows Phone 7 arrives in the U.S. on November 8.

While Microsoft hasn't made any official Windows Phone 7 announcments, both the Neowin and Thurrott reports appear to support each other. Neowin says it was unable to confirm whether U.S. customers would get their hands on Windows Phone 7 devices the same day as Europe. While Thurrott says he doesn't "know anything about a European launch" only that November 8 is Windows Phone 7's U.S. debut.

Until now, the most promising date for a Windows Phone 7 launch was October 11 since the company is reportedly planning a press event for that date. But now it appears Microsoft may be using that event to make an announcement unrelated to Windows Phone 7. It's not clear what that announcement might be.

Nevertheless, Neowin believes Microsoft will be showing off some Windows Phone 7 devices on October 11, but will also hold several launch events worldwide on October 21. Microsoft has only stated that Windows Phone 7 devices will be available in the later part of 2010, presumably in time for the holiday season.

Recently, an HTC executive based in the Middle East said the smartphone manufacturer would launch Windows Phone 7 handsets in October.

While you wait for Windows Phone 7 devices to finally arrive, what may be some of Microsoft's marketing materials for the smartphone platform have surfaced. The blog WMPowerUser got its hands on two commercials that show a Windows Phone 7 device called the HTC Mondrian available on AT&T. Rumors about the Mondrian have been circulating for several months. Specs for the device are scarce, but it is believed the Mondrian will be sporting a Qualcomm 1.3 or 1.5 GHz Snapdragon processor.