Hasta La Gadget!

Microsoft is scheduled to announce its first line of Windows Phone 7 products in a New York press conference next week.

Reporters this morning received an invitation to an Oct. 11 event, where Microsoft will announce which carriers and manufacturers will be making and selling handsets based on Microsoft’s next mobile operating system. The company will also preview the first line of Windows Phone 7 hardware.

It’s evident that AT&T is on board as one of the carriers. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and AT&T CEO Ralph de la Vega will be jointly hosting the conference to discuss the latest developments of Windows Phone 7, according to the press invite.

Despite Engadget’s report that T-Mobile will be a highlight of the Microsoft press conference, a Microsoft spokeswoman said T-Mobile is holding a separate press conference on Oct. 11 that is not part of the Microsoft conference. She declined to comment on whether T-Mobile would be among initial carrier partners offering Windows Phone 7.

Windows Phone 7 is Microsoft’s complete do-over of its mobile operating system previously dubbed Windows Mobile. Microsoft established an early lead on mobility with its older mobile operating system, but in recent years the company has suffered substantial losses in market share. Windows Mobile hasn’t been upgraded substantially in several years, and more user-friendly competitors such as Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android OS have taken market share away from Microsoft. As a result, Microsoft scrapped the Windows Mobile project and redid the entire OS into a tile-based interface incorporating elements of the Zune media player and Xbox Live gaming.

Microsoft is also tackling its competitors on the patent front. On Friday, the Redmond company sued Motorola over alleged patent infringement in its Android phones, covering features such as “synchronizing e-mail, calendars and contacts, scheduling meetings, and notifying applications of changes in signal strength and battery power.” And in an interview in the Wall Street Journal Monday, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says that Android sales will generate licensing fees for Microsoft.

Though the company will announce details about Windows Phone 7 at the Oct. 11 conference, multiple reports have claimed that the official shipping date of the first Windows Phone 7 devices is Nov. 8. Wired.com has heard the same date from sources familiar with the project.

See Also:

• Microsoft Blends Zune Media, Xbox Live Into New Phone OS
• Hands-On With Windows Phone 7 Series
• Microsoft Tells Windows Phone 7’s App Story
• Microsoft’s Mobile Strategy Takes Aim at Apple, Google

New York City promised subway cell phone coverage five years ago, and Transit Wireless took up the $46 million banner in 2007 — now, three years and a friendly British jab later, at least two major carriers are convinced it’s actually going to happen. Bloomberg reports that T-Mobile and AT&T have both signed ten-year agreements to let their customers access Transit’s subterranean wireless network, which should cover 277 NYC stations in the years to come. Critically, we’re still talking about coverage at just the stations, not actually on board — there’s till no word on when we can expect the tubes themselves to boost our sorry reception bars.

AT&T and T-Mobile will have cell coverage in NYC subway stations originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 02 Oct 2010 17:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The last few months have been phenomenal for Android fans, with Samsung’s Galaxy line hitting all four carriers and Verizon getting a few, new, better Droids for their customers. But which should you pick? It’s actually an easy decision. More »

San Francisco bar owner Jay Siegan decided to express his hatred for AT&T with the marquee outside his night club, shown in the photo above. This is visual proof that actions speak louder than words (especially when your iPhone’s reception is so bad), but those are some clever words, too.

Big thanks to San Francisco culture blog SFist.com for letting us repost this photo.

See Also:

• With iPad, Apple Still Has a Fatal Attraction for AT&T
• AT&T: The Communications Company That Failed to Communicate in …

Photo courtesy of Jay Siegan

You might not be able to score a Flipout in AT&T stores just yet — in fact, AT&T still hasn’t fessed up to the fact that it’s coming — but if you’ve got $388 and a can-do attitude, you can still grab one. The swiveling Android set in full AT&T livery and packaging has shown up on eBay for $388.88… which, ironically, is probably less than you’ll pay off contract once it officially launches. There appear to be a few available at that price, so let us know if you pull the trigger.

[Thanks, Jon]

AT&T-branded Motorola Flipout released… on eBay originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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