Sprint To Sell HTC Handset with Windows Phone 7

Sprint Nextel will offer a handset next month from HTC that includes Microsofts Windows Phone 7 operating system.

It is Sprints first device based on Microsofts new operating system that the software king hopes will strengthen its position in the U.S. smartphone market.

HTC today announced the phone the HTC Arrive will be available from Sprint on March 20.  The smartphone will be available for $199.99 with a two-year service agreement or eligible upgrade and after a $100 mail-in rebate (excluding taxes) in all Sprint retail channels.

HTC also said that beginning today customers can pre-order the handset at any participating Sprint store with the purchase of a $50 Sprint card.

The smartphone features a sliding QWERTY keyboard and tilt-up display and integrates with such Microsoft services as Bing, Zune and Xbox Live.

For more details about the phone, check out Sprints fact sheet.