Microsoft goes big with Windows Phone 7.5 U.S. device launch

Those of us with existing Windows Phone devices were able to upgrade to WP 7.5 (aka Mango) over the last month and then a couple weeks ago we saw the new Nokia Windows Phones revealed for countries outside the U.S. Today in New York city, Microsoft is holding a huge (55 feet tall phone display) event announcing that we are finally getting some Mango devices in stores.

All the details on the new devices can be found on the Windows Phone team blog. I already wrote about the HTC Radar 4G on T-Mobile and may be picking one up for myself soon. New devices available now or coming soon include:

• HTC Radar 4G (T-Mobile): This device is available for $99 after $50 mail-in rebate and looks like a little brother to the HTC Flyer with the aluminum shell.
• Samsung Focus S (AT&T): This flagship Samsung Windows Phone sports a 4.3 inch Super AMOLED Plus display and if I was on AT&T I would be jumping on this one. Cost is $199 with 2-year contract.
• Samsung Focus Flash (AT&T): This is the budget Windows Phone at just $49, but still sports some decent specs with a 3.7 inch display.
• HTC Titan (AT&T): This flagship sports a huge 4.7 inch display, but is so thin it still feels great in your hand. It is coming soon for $199.

We don't see any news for Sprint or Verizon Windows Phone fans who only have a single device available even today. Hopefully we will hear something soon for these carriers.

In other Windows Phone news, Spotify is now available in the Windows Phone Marketplace. Windows Phone owners now have plenty of music options with Zune, Spotify, Slacker, and more. As a Zune Pass subscriber I am not sure I see the appeal of a 3rd party service, but I'll have to check it out since I do have a Spotify Premium account to use with my Nokia N9 and iPhone 4S.

See also...

• HTC Radar 4G is first Windows Phone Mango device in U.S. (review)
• What makes Nokia Windows Phone devices unique?
• Top 10 smartphones of 2011 (Holiday Gift Guide)
• Windows Phone 7.5 Mango update is officially launched
• Windows Phone 7 with Mango rocks the best mullet in the smartphone world