Microsoft: No CDMA Windows Phone 7 devices until 2011

Microsoft said on Thursday that when Windows Phone 7 devices hit the shelves later this year, there will be no CDMA verions until 2011.

Microsoft Senior product manager Greg Sullivan told CNET news that the company had to make some trade-offs. "Even Microsoft doesn't have unlimited resources. We had to prioritize doing fewer things, really, really well", Sullivan said. The software giant made an active choice earlier in the year to delay CDMA versions of Windows Phone 7 but confirmed the decision on Thursday.

"For the worldwide market, the vast majority of phones are GSM phones, so we focused on GSM first and then plan to deliver an update that will have great CDMA support in the first half of 2011," Sullivan said. What does this mean for Windows Phone 7? Well those who were hoping they could pick up a Sprint or Verizon Windows Phone 7 device this Christmas are out of luck. The public acknowledgement of no CDMA support came on a day the company announced its plans for YouTube and Twitter support on Windows Phone 7.

Microsoft also announced the final development tools for Windows Phone 7 on Thursday. The tools allow developers to create Windows Phone 7 applications which can be submitted to the Windows Phone marketplace when it opens in early October. Microsoft has still not confirmed when GSM devices will be available in the U.S. or worldwide. The company will hold an open house event in New York City on October 11 where company officials are expected to detail worldwide launch plans.