Microsoft has confirmed the hardware partners that will be launching Windows Phone 7 handsets, at a one-to-one briefing with Pocket-lint.

Although the company still wouldn't be drawn on any specific dates for the launch of the new mobile phone operating system, beyond some time in the "Holidays", it was happy to tell us who was making the devices for day one sales.

Greg Sullivan, senior product manager for Microsoft, told Pocket-lint that we could expect handsets from Dell, Asus, LG, HTC, and Samsung at the launch later this year.

It confirms certain former rumors.

We always thought Dell would be launching a Windows Phone 7 device, the Dell Lightning. And HTC exclusively confirmed to us that it was also launching a Windows Phone 7-powered handset too.

In our meeting, Sullivan referenced an LG Pacific, possibly a renaming of the LG Panther doing the rounds, but refused to be drawn further.

Microsoft is using a Samsung device for developers to preview and work with the new OS, but has categorically stated that Samsung isn't releasing the handset (pictured) in that form.

Continue at pocket-lint

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