HTC Arrive To Be Sprint's First Windows Phone 7 Model

Sprint has just announced plans to offer the HTC Arrive, which will be this carrier's first device running Microsoft's operating system for smartphones. 

This model is going to have a 3.6-inch, WVGA (800 x 480) touchscreen that can slide aside (and tilt up) to reveal a landscape-oriented keyboard.

The Arrive is going to run Windows Phone 7 on a 1 GHz processor and have 576 MB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage.

As it will run Microsoft's new mobile OS, this smartphone will include a suite of communication, entertainment, and productivity software. This includes tie-ins to the Zune music store and Xbox Live. 

More High-End Features
The HTC Arrive will have 3G, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1, and a GPS receiver.

Other features are going to include a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera with LCD flash and a 1500 mAh battery.

Overall, this model is going to be 4.6 inches x 2.3 inches x 0.6 inches (118 x 59 x 16 mm). It will weigh 6.5 ounces (184 grams).

Coming Next Month
The HTC Arrive will be available beginning March 20, for $200 with a new two-year service agreement or eligible upgrade and after a $100 mail-in rebate.

Beginning today, customers can pre-order this model at any participating Sprint Store with the purchase of a $50 Sprint gift card.

 A CDMA First
The Arrive will likely be the first device running Windows Phone 7 to be released by a carrier that uses CDMA . That's because Microsoft is just now adding support for this cellular-wireless networking standard to its operating system.

As it stands now, only GSM-based carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile can offer WP7 models.