Windows Phone 7 Coming Sooner Rather Than Later?Windows Phone 7 Coming Sooner Rather Than Later?

Microsoft has announced that their new mobile platform will be in consumer's hands by the holiday season. There are some speculating that the holiday might be as soon as Labor Day, or even sooner.Microsoft has never given an official launch month, much less a date, for Windows Phone 7, saying only that it would be available this year and in time for the holiday season. That usually means the October/November time frame. Just a few weeks ago, Microsoft VP Mich Matthews let it slip that October would be the release month, though that hasn't been officially confirmed.

Now there is evidence that it may be out sooner than that. Engadget has run across a sheet for AT&T retail signage which is for store refreshes to take place on July 24th. Windows Phone 7 is listed along with all of the other smartphone OS's AT&T carries.

Don't get too excited just yet though. Engadget cautions that sometimes these sheets come out in July for a September release, which would still put WP7 a month earlier than anyone else has led us to believe.

I personally find it hard to believe that WP7 will be out this month unless Microsoft has really cranked up the security surrounding the platform. Less than a month ago, we were shown the facelift WP7 has received since the MIX event earlier this year. That alone would hint at a device being at least two to three months out, not a mere 45 days. Microsoft hasn't even announced that WP7 is gold and in the carrier's hands. They may not do a public announcement if they are trying to sneak out a release date with minimal forewarning.