Windows Phone 7 Release Date: October 11

The battle for the mobile landscape is about to heat up: Microsoft is expected to barge right into direct competition with Apple and Google with the release of Windows Phone 7. Invitations sent out indicate that Microsoft will hold a launch event on October 11. The event will give attendees an insider look at Windows Phone 7 and provide a hands-on demonstration of the new devices that will go head to head with Apple’s iPhone.

Early videos of Microsoft’s new mobile OS seem intriguing and reveal a gesture and touch based interface with a rather unique look. With that aside, could they have picked a better name? iOS and Android at least sound modern and hip, but Windows Phone 7? Doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue with much enthusiasm.

Earlier in the year it was revealed that Microsoft was paying mobile app developers to create for Windows Phone 7, which is just part of what is expected to be a massive push to grow Windows Phone 7 into a viable alternative to iOS and Android OS.

AppleInsider comically notes that the stakes are high for the Windows Phone 7 because loss of the companies mobile market share “had affected Steve Ballmer’s end of year performance bonus.” All jokes aside, it is indeed a high stakes game; more and more personal computing is being moved away from the desktop and into mobile devices, if Microsoft fails here it could spell bigger trouble for the companies long term prospects in an increasingly mobile world.