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If you want to hop on the Windows Phone 7 bandwagon, you won’t lack for handset choices, promises Microsoft. As part of its launch of the Windows Phone 7 operating system, Microsoft has partnered with most of the major telecom carriers and handset makers to create new phones for the OS.

So far, nine phones running Windows Phone 7 OS have been announced. These include the HTC Surround, Samsung Focus, LG Quantum, HTC HD7, Dell Venue Pro, LG Optimus 7, HTC Mozard, Samsung Omnia 7 and HTC Trophy.

One thing remains common across all these devices. They all include a 1-GHz processor, 256 MB of RAM with a minimum of 4 GB flash memory, a capacitive touchscreen and five sensors: assisted GPS, accelerometer, compass, proximity and light sensors.

That’s by design, says Microsoft, because it wanted to give users an OS experience that would be similar, no matter which phone they bought.

Gadget Lab writer Tim Carmody got a quick hands-on with some of these devices, and he says Windows Phone 7 devices are “probably somewhere in between the iPhone and Android in terms of customization possibility.”

In the U.S., AT&T and T-Mobile have said they will offer Windows Phone 7 devices in time for the holiday season. Verizon Wireless, probably burned by its experiment with the Microsoft Kin phones, is missing from the list for now but Microsoft says Verizon will introduce Phone 7 devices soon.

So far, only AT&T has announced pricing for its Phone 7 handsets–they will cost $200 with a two-year contract on AT&T.

Read on to see the list of phones that will be offered by each carrier worldwide. Check out our handy comparison chart to see the key features of each phone.

In North America:

• AT&T: HTC Surround, Samsung Focus and LG Quantum.
• T-Mobile USA: HTC HD7 and Dell Venue Pro.
• Telus: HTC Surround and LG Optimus 7.
• América Móvil: LG Optimus 7.

In Europe:

• O2: HTC HD7.
• Orange: HTC Mozart and Samsung Omnia 7.
• SFR: HTC Trophy and Samsung Omnia 7.
• Movistar: LG Optimus 7, Samsung Omnia 7 and HTC HD7.
• Deutsche Telekom: HTC Mozart and Samsung Omnia 7.
• Vodafone: HTC Trophy and LG Optimus 7.

In Asia Pacific:

• SingTel: HTC HD 7 and LG Optimus 7.
• Telstra: HTC Mozart and LG Optimus 7.
• Vodafone: HTC Trophy.