Windows 7 phones may be available next month, if you believe the rumors around the company’s upcoming event. There is an official Microsoft event on 11th October in New York, which might be an open house to display Windows 7 phones. Also rumors have it that the worldwide launch would follow shortly, probably on 21st October.

We don’t speculate on rumors much, but there’s a high level of anticipation around the Windows phones, as Microsoft has been anxious to compete with Apple and Google on the platform level.  With the holiday shopper season approaching, the time is ripe for a device release.  According to The Telegrah:

There are high hopes for Windows Phone 7, which has received positive early reactions from those who have tried it and has been praised for its integration with Microsoft’s Xbox Live platform. The new handsets will also be able to download music and films through Microsoft’s Zune Marketplace.

The article went on to report,

Microsoft confirmed that they are holding an event on October 11th but would not say whether it was related to Windows Phone 7, nor would they confirm the release date for the handsets. A spokesman said: “We have nothing to share at this time.”

The launch of Windows 7 phone is a much anticipated event, as it will determine if we have another major competitor in the smart phone market or not. The integration with Visual Studio 7 and real-time bidding for advertisements are a few of the major pros we are looking forward to. However, to achieve overall success in the smart phone business, Microsoft will have to up their game in the applications market arena with Zune.

And speaking of applications , the iPhone Bing application has received an update today, specifically around its mapping features. The announcement was made on the Bing community blog, highlighting more ways in which Bing is competing with Google search tools. The updates include price predictor feature for Bing travel features and map display enhancements. This update goes to reiterate that the availability and range of features of mobile applications are an important determinant of success in the smart phone business.