No Windows Phone 7 for the HTC Touch HD2

There were rumours abound when Microsoft revealed Windows Phone 7 at MWC that the HTC Touch HD2 would get an upgrade. Hell, even the Microsoft ads had what looked like to be a HTC Touch HD2 in the actors hand.

But now it has been confirmed by Microsoft that the HTC Touch HD2 *WILL* not get the upgrade to Windows Phone 7. Even with its large capacitive screen and a 1Ghz Tegra processor, it just does not qualify.

Microsoft is setting strict hardware requirements such as 3 hardware buttons and most likely at least a 1Ghz processor.

I think this is reasonable seeing that Windows Phone 7 will be released at the end of the year, and by then the HTC Touch HD 2 would be superceeded by some other hot HTC phone.

Microsoft's Oded Ran, "We've received many questions about the upgradability of HTC HD2 and we currently do not have plans to update the HTC HD2 to Windows Phone 7 Series... For Windows Phone 7 Series we are enforcing a strict set of hardware requirements to ensure a consistently great experience for end-users and developers... we cannot confirm that Windows Mobile 6.5 phones that satisfy those requirements will be upgradeable”


news via Neowin and Programmerfish

Windows Phone 7 Series Features Video

MWC: Microsoft debuts Windows Phone 7 Series

Introducing Windows Phone 7 Series

Over at Engadget, they have full coverage of MWC and the introduction of Windows Phone 7 Series. Damn, this looks interesting, expect to see it during the Holiday season of 2010...

Now, will this be ported to other aging devices when released by Microsoft by the extra-ordinary people at xda-developers? You betcha!

But will it run on older devices? Don't know, chances are even on my HTC Touch Pro, I doubt it. I would say, it may need a processor faster than 500Mhz or at least 1Ghz....

Only time will tell....