Mark your calendars, smartphone fans, as the debut of the first Windows Phone 7 devices is nigh. Microsoft just sent out formal invitations for an October 11 press conference in New York to be co-hosted by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega. The event will begin at 6:30 a.m. PT, and will be followed by an open house, at which Microsoft will showcase its current portfolio of products.
It’s no surprise that AT&T will take center stage with Microsoft, as the carrier was named a preferred partner from the very beginning and ads for the HTC Mondrian have already leaked onto the Web. However, according to the meeting agenda, T-Mobile representatives will also be on hand to show off that company’s Windows Phone 7 handsets and services. Remember, LG, HTC, and Samsung have all received FCC approval for their smartphones.
The question remains of when the handsets will actually be available for purchase. Sources tell CNET that phones shown at the New York event won’t go on sale until later in October in Europe and early November in the U.S.
We’ll be in attendance at both October 11 events to bring you the latest news, as well as videos and photos, so be sure to tune back in.
See also: Inside Microsoft’s courtship of phone developers
Windows Phone 7’s app lineup (photos)
+6 more