The pressure is on for Windows Phone 7.  The Kin project was a resounding failure, selling under 10,000 units according to numerous reports and sources.  And Windows Mobile 6.5 is rapidly losing favor with customers -- it's been bleeding market share at a steady rate for the last year.

One key question is what the final products will be like.  Very early reviews have given us a bit of insight into that.  The other key question is "When will the phones land?"

There was no definitive answer from Microsoft -- until now.  Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner, who recently made waves by comparing the iPhone 4 to Windows Vista in terms of what a mess it was becoming, let slip the release Windows for Europe and the U.S. in a presentation he recently gave

Turner states, "Now let's talk about phones.  This has been tough.  This is a lowlight.  For me, the company -- it's tough.  But you know what?  In the October timeframe, in the November timeframe -- in October likely across Europe, in November likely across the U.S. -- the game... we're back in the game.  And this game is not over."

Previously, another Microsoft presentation indicated that the phone would launch in October -- but did not say where.

The potential that they may get Windows Phone 7 hardware a phone month ahead of their American friends should excite Microsoft fans in European Union nations, including England.  Usually the U.S. gets tech products first and Europe has to endure a long wait.  Or else Japan gets it first, the U.S. gets it second, and Europe gets it last.

The move may surprise some give Microsoft's rocky relationship with the EU.  The EU delivered an unprecedented $1.4B USD fine against Microsoft back in Feb. 2008 for what it viewed as blatant antitrust violations.  Then last year, the union of states demanded that Microsoft alter its new Windows operating system to allow customers to select a browser via a "ballot box" type process.  Microsoft eventually complied, begrudgingly. 

Microsoft recently announced its hardware launch partners -- Dell, ASUS, LG, HTC, and Samsung.