Dell: Windows Phone 7 Easier Than AndroidDell: Windows Phone 7 Easier Than Android

Windows Phone 7 isn't even off the ground in the U.S. yet, but that hasn't stopped at least some developers from taking a positive view of the re-booted mobile operating system from Microsoft.

Dell is one of a handful of companies that is prepared to debut a Windows Phone 7 device -- the Venue Pro, with T-Mobile -- later this week. Dell has also fielded a few Android devices.

Speaking at an event in Hong Kong, Dell noted the feedback he's hearing from developers is that working with Microsoft's code for Windows Phone 7 platform was less of a pain in the rear than working with Google's Android platform.

That didn't stop Dell from heaping some praise on Android, however. "What's interesting about the smartphone space is how it's changing into a more open-modular system," Dell said. "It's staggering that Android has now surpassed Apple in terms of originations and this is happening at a much, much faster rate than what folks had envisioned."

Numbers shared recently by The NPD Group and Canalys indicate that Android has out-sold Apple's iPhone platform by more than two-to-one during the last quarter. Android now holds a commanding 43% of the U.S. smartphone market. Apple's iPhone holds 26%.

Microsoft's Windows Mobile platform -- not to be mistaken with Windows Phone 7 -- has a 3% share of the smartphone market in the U.S. That means the last vestiges of Windows Mobile 6.x devices floating around out there still account for at least a small fraction of smartphones in use. With at least five new Windows Phone 7 smartphones hitting carrier shelves later this week, this officially marks the beginning of Microsoft's long an unenviable climb up from the bottom.

Can Microsoft whip up enough developer -- and consumer -- enthusiasm to make the new platform the hit it needs to be?