HTC 7 Pro UK release date set to January?

The HTC 7 Pro – the latest Windows Phone 7 Handset – could be set for a UK release date in January.

The German O2 site has suggested that the eagerly awaited handset will be available early in 2011, after missing out on an early projection of a Christmas arrival.

The HTC 7 Pro brings a QWERTY keyboard (that's the Pro bit) along with all the familiar offerings of the first raft of Windows Phone 7 handsets.

Key manufacturer

HTC has, of course, been a key manufacturer of handsets that sport Microsoft's operating systems, even before the software giant managed to bring itself bang up to date with its latest offering.

Given the familiarity with Microsoft products in the average enterprise IT department, Windows Phone 7 is likely to be a popular choice, especially with the addition of a QWERTY keyboard.

It will, however, need to show that it's a worthy competitor to RIM's BlackBerry, which has become the handset of choice of many businesses in the past five years.