Orange suffer Windows Phone 7 shortages

Just weeks after Windows Phone 7 was launched, an overwhelming demand for the OS has caused a shortage of stock in the UK.

Orange have been hit the hardest, and are left unable to deliver HTC Mozart and Samsung Omnia 7 handsets to customers who have pre-ordered. The network has been forced to compensate customers, and have been handing out £20 HMV vouchers for those left waiting.

An Orange spokesperson said:

“We have been working with our handset partners to roll out Windows Phone 7 devices across our retail footprint as swiftly as possible. We can confirm that, as part of this process, we have been running a pre-order service whereby customers are given an incentive in those stores who have yet to receive stock, and we are working with our suppliers to meet customer demand as a number-one priority.

Reasons for the shortages haven’t been explained, although one Orange manager claimed it was due to a “manufacturer issue on a world-wide scale”, with Businessweek suggesting this could hint towards a shortage of AMOLED displays.

Despite not being able to fulfill customer orders, this is good news for Microsoft, who are seeing an overwhelming demand for their new platform. It’s not clear whether the same issues will affect the US launch of Windows Phone 7, which begins next week.

[Source: Yahoo!]