In Australia, customers who purchase the new HTC HD2, which runs on the Windows Mobile operating system, face the prospect of not being able to upgrade their new phone to the new Windows 7 OS, which is due out later this year.
Telstra is currently selling the HD2 exclusively on its Next G network, for A$0 upfront with a 24-month $80 plan. The new Windows OS is due out in September 2010.
All up, a customer buying an HD2 will have to pay at least $1920 on the plan or $829 outright, for a mobile that faces near-term obsolescence.
Executives had dodged media questions on whether the phone would be upgradable to Windows Mobile 7 when the HD2 was launched in Australia in a showy event at the Sydney Opera House.
Microsoft is blaming the problem on the Windows Phone 7's tight hardware specifications. They threaten to make Windows 6 phones obsolete, although Microsoft says it will still support Win6 and release an upgrade to be known as Windows Classic, once Windows Phone 7 is released.
HTC first learnt of its problems with Apple when the US company filed complaints with both with the US International Trade Commission and the US Federal Court seeking a ban on US imports, sales or use of the targeted HTC phones, as well as unspecified compensation for damages.
