I gotta admit it, I'm really impressed with what Microsoft have done with Windows Phone 7, and the Xbox Live integration is just one more thing that is driving me towards getting a 360.

I've been looking at smartphones for a long time, and Apple have been the best in quality with Google biting at their heels with a few Android phones. Apple are too closed up for my tastes though, you're locked into place with the hardware, so I've been more in the Google camp for a while, but they in turn are too open. I like that they are open, but it creates a few issues too. Not to mention that I've felt that Android phones have been too reliant on being like the iPhone, and not differentiating itself enough.

Along comes Microsoft with a great blend of the two. Hardware specs are set a high minimum, and Microsoft will be dealing with the software. What you get is a tight experience no matter what WP7 phone you buy, but without being locked down to one hardware company or phone model. On top of this, they're bringing in a very different user interface, one that improves on what we have now and is slick as hell.

I was in love at this point already, but adding Xbox Live to the mix just sweetens the deal. This is the first home console network to be brought to a portable device not dedicated to gaming, and by the looks of it, Sony will really have to step things up if they want to play along with PSN on phones.

Of course, it still has a few fundamental problems, which is why I'm not jumping on it just yet. No multitasking sucks pretty hard, and it looks like a few of the current features could use some touching up. That and neither the marketplace or Xbox Live is available in my country, so...

But none the less, Windows Phone 7 1.0 is looking very impressive and I'm really excited about where it will go from here!

I want one!

Yeah it's looking really sweet. I have this burning question though, but I fear I'll look like an idiot!

Whenever I see a picture of Windows 7 it's on a windows "phone" with the Windows logo and everything, but does that "phone" actually exist, or is it just the OS or interface or w/e on other phones?

Just the OS.

Anyone have a listing of phone carriers providing Windows 7 phones or what type of phones have it built in? My 2 year contract is expiring in a few months and i been considering looking into a Windows 7 based phone.

Too lazy to do research; what do windows 7 phones do that iphone/android can't? I've had the iPhone 3g and now the Motorola Droid. Both felt extremely lackluster after owning for one year; whats microsoft bringing to the table? 

Edit: Just watched this video (dunno how to embed)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR43MtPW-6M

Looks sick, brings a solid competition to the smartphone market, but I can't say that I would lay out money for it. Just seems like they're trying to nudge their way into an already crowded market. 

Well, not much, really. There's more difference in how these devices do things than there is in what they do.

For example, all three phones let you use Facebook in one way or another, but WinPho 7 has Facebook tightly integrated into the OS, while iOS has an army of Facebook apps (and I'm betting so does Android).

The only truly unique features I can think of are integration with other Microsoft services, like Xbox Live and Zune. You won't find an app for that. If you're a heavy user of Microsoft services, using their phone OS makes a lot of sense.

i doubt it will have a big impact on the iphone

Does it need to? Android hasn't made that big an impact on the iPhone and that's a pretty big success.

(editing - posting to vgchartz from iPad appears to be completely broken and left me with a blank post)

Every WP7 has a windows button at the bottom, in fact three buttons - back, windows(home), search - but the quintessential example of a WP7 phone shown in most general press often along with the spread of a hub screen wider than the phone itself is basically the emulator phone UX (what you see on a PC when you run an app in the emulator).

Lots of press with images of the actual phones can be found at the usual tech sites (anandtech, arstechnica, gizmodo, engadget, winsupersite, etc.) as well as at microsoft.com (though I only see US phones at microsoft.com, that may be because I'm in the US.)

I may choose differently when I get to hold one in my hand, but most likely I'll be going for the Samsung Focus.

I'm hoping to pick up a sim free omnia 7 sometime soon. I want it now though!

Does anyone know what games are included for free and how much the paid ones cost?