HP drops Windows 7 for smartphones

Hardware vendor confirms Microsoft's flagship operating system will have no place in future smartphone line-up

HP smartphones will not run Windows 7

Hardware giant HP has announced that its soon-to-be-launched smartphones will not use Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 software.

HP executive vice president Todd Bradley confirmed that its devices will feature an operating system based on software acquired during the vendor’s buyout of smart phone vendor Palm earlier this year.

Speaking to CNBC, Bradley said HP would continue to be Microsoft’s biggest customer, before going on to confirm that there would never be a Windows Phone 7 device from HP.

However, Bradley said the vendor will feature Windows 7 as part of its forthcoming line-up of HP Slate PCs.

The announcement comes less than a week since Microsoft confirmed that Dell, Asus, LG, HTC and Samsung have all signed up as Windows 7 handset provider partners.