Shortly after the news that Windows 7.5 aka Mango has been released to manufacturers comes the official announcement of the first phone to run the updated OS, the Toshiba-Fujitsu made IS12T. Japanese carrier KDDI confirmed that the device will be the first to run the new build of Windows Phone 7 and is set to launch in September. Hopefully the phone will signal the start of a new wave of devices running the platform as since its launch relatively few WP7 handsets have hit the market.
Despite the handset having a less than memorable name the specs should leave quite an impression as the IS12T will feature a 3.7" WVGA screen, 1GHz processor and a generous 32GB of internal storage. There's a rear-facing 13mp camera which offers one-touch activation even in standby mode and though WP7.5 can support video calling there's no mention of a front-facing camera. The handset will be available in a choice of three colours and in addition to this it will also be waterproof.
Not only will the IS12T be the first to offer Mango but it will also be the first Japanese Windows Phone handset. Up until now the OS hasn't offered support for Japanese language, one of many improvements that have been delivered with the new build. Japan is one of 19 additional markets which the Windows Phone marketplace will now support and should help Microsoft to significantly increase its smartphone userbase in 2012.
For the rest of the world it looks like Nokia's "Sea Ray" will be the first Mango phone which offers some decent specs in a form factor similar to the Nokia N9. While the IS12T probably won't be seen in the US consumers can expect to see plenty of new Windows Phone 7 devices in the new year not just from Nokia but from Samsung, HTC and Dell as well.
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