Windows Phone 7 Headed To Verizon

Windows Phone 7 launched earlier this month for those in the US but only on the GSM based networks like T-Mobile and AT&T. That left Verizon and Sprint users out in the cold. Verizon is ready to go though as soon as a CDMA based device is ready.

Yesterday Verizon posted a Tweet "As soon as Microsoft has 'em ready, we're excited to offer Windows 7 mobile devices." That is good news as some, myself included, had speculated that Verizon may give Microsoft something less than a warm reception with Windows Phone 7 given the Kin debacle earlier this year.

Now Engadget is reporting that the HTC Trophy, which runs Windows Phone 7, will be headed to Verizon sometime in early 2011. The information comes by way of an anonymous tip that leaked flyer specifically aimed at Microsoft employees.

Microsoft committed earlier this year to make sure everyone of their employees had a new Windows Phone 7 device, but of course not every employee is on a GSM network, so either those on Verizon or Sprint have to switch, or a CDMA device has to be coming down the pike. Given at least half of US consumers with cell phones are on CDMA networks, it only follows that eventually a CDMA device would be forthcoming. Until now though, there was no solid info on when it would happen. After all, the iPhone has gone three and a half years without a CDMA version for the US shores so far.

The specs of Windows Phone 7 devices are all pretty comparable except for those little extras each phone has, like slide out speakers, a slide out keyboard, extra memory, etc. What does the Trophy have that sets it apart? Well, as a CDMA device, it will still be able to travel by having a quad-band GSM radio that will allow it to act as a global phone when you leave the country.

The only odd thing about the offer is it a special price of $199. I thought Microsoft employees were getting these things for free?