Microsoft released its first sales figures for new Windows Phone 7 smartphones (WP7), saying more than 1.5 million of the handsets were sold by manufacturers in the first six weeks. The number was revealed by Achim Berg, vice president of business and marketing for Windows Phones, in a Q&A posted to Microsoft’s website. Berg says the number is, “in line with our expectations – especially when compared to other new platform introductions.” So, WP7 is not an utter flop.

Windows Phone 7 was unveiled in October and marked the software maker’s expansion into a smart phone arena dominated by Apple and Google. It was launched in the US on November 8 and in Europe several weeks earlier on October 21. Five devices from AT&T and T-Mobile are currently available in the U.S., with several more selling overseas. WP7 devices from Sprint and Verizon are expected next year. U.S. devices include the HTC Surround, LG Quantum, Samsung Focus, HTC HD7, and the Dell Venue Pro.

Berg also said more than 18,000 software developers were making applications for Windows Phone 7 handsets and 4,000 applications were currently available. It’s widely known that Microsoft pumped a significant amount of money into courting over developers and that it has worked closely with many developers to ensure that their apps are as close to perfect as possible.

While, Gartner, the technology research firm analyzed that Microsoft’s share of the global mobile operating system market will fall to 4.7 percent this year from 8.7 percent last year.

“We all know that the competition is extreme in this industry, and we have to compete on multiple fronts. We are on a path to begin releasing the first of several updates in the next couple of months, and several more mobile operators around the world will introduce Windows Phone 7 on their network in 2011,” said Berg.

Via pcmag