Dell Venue Pro Windows Phone Having a Limited Launch Tomorrow

Dell's first model running Microsoft Windows Phone 7 is reportedly going to be available in a few stores on Monday, and be more widely available next week.

The Dell Venue Pro is going to be a slider that sports a range of high-end features such as a large screen and fast processor.

This smartphone is going to debut in Microsoft's own stores tomorrow., according to information leaking out of Dell. There are only seven of these scattered around, so most people interested in this device will have to wait until November 15 when the Venue Pro is reportedly scheduled to appear on Dell.com.

Dell Gets Serious about Windows Phone 7
In a related development, Dell is planning to switch 25,000 of its employees from using BlackBerry smartphones made by RIM to its own Venue Pro.

Dell CFO Brian Gladden told the Wall Street Journal that Dell has realized that RIM is a direct competitor.

Dell Venue Pro Overview
Dell's latest smartphone is going to be a slider with a large AM-OLED display, and offer wireless service with T-Mobile USA.

This won't be the only slider running Microsoft's new mobile operating system, but it will be the only one with a portrait-oriented sliding keyboard rather than the usual landscape-oriented one.

Up front will be a 4.1-inch, WVGA (800 x 480) capacitive touchscreen.

On the inside is going to be a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor running Windows Phone 7.

The Venue Pro is going to be able to connect to T-Mobile's 3G network, and it will include Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth, and a GPS receiver.

It will also sport a 5-megapixel auto-focus camera with LED flash, an FM tuner, and a 1400 mAh battery.

Overall,this Dell model will be 4.8 x 2.5 x 0.6 inches(122 mm x 64 mm x 15 mm).

Microsoft Windows Phone 7 Preview
Despite its name,this new smartphone operating system has little in common with its predecessors. It will have a completely different user interface and won't run applications written for the earlier versions nor will any current models be upgradeable.

Its focus has mostly moved to consumers, and its new UI emphasizes social networking, pictures, multimedia, games, etc. It has also been redesigned to be controlled with a fingertip.

Still, it will include some hold-overs from Windows Mobile that business users want: Microsoft Office Mobile and support for synchronizing with Microsoft Exchange.

It will work with Microsoft's Zune music service, as well as the Xbox Live gaming service.

Pricing
How much Dell and T-Mobile are going to charge for the Venue Pro has not yet been announced, and neither has it leaked out.

Still, it is likely to be in the neighborhood of $200 with a wireless contract, which become the unofficial standard price for high-end smartphones.

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