HTC “thrilled” with Windows Phone 7 changes

Peter Chou, thrilled with Microsoft

In an interview Wednesday at the CTIA Wireless conference in Las Vegas, HTC’s CEO Peter Chou pronounced himself  "thrilled" with the many changes Microsoft made to Windows Phone 7 series.

"They’re putting in tremendous effort to make Windows Phone 7 very appealing and competitive," he said. HTC expects to release a Windows Phone 7 device before the end of the year, Chou added.

Even as it turns its attention to Windows Phone 7, HTC plans to keep supporting Windows Mobile 6.5.

"Windows Mobile 6.5 and 7 will coexist," said Chou, explaining that corporate users in particular are likely to keep using the older software.

HTC is expected to release at least 2 more Windows Mobile 6.5 devices later this year.

HTC was thought to be one of the companies most likely to suffer from the reduced ability of OEMs to customize the user interface and software of Windows Phone 7, but with their huge advantage in smartphone carrier relationships and Windows Phone 7’s improved user interface they may simply enjoy the reduced need to invest in the software layer.

Read the full HTC interview at Forbes here.