Dell missing from Windows Phone 7.1 Mango line-up

Windows Phone 7.1 Mango is official along with new OEM partners Acer, Fujitsu and ZTE, all of whom have committed to releasing at least one WP7.1 device by the end of the year. One curious omission from Microsoft’s partner slide, however, is Dell; the company launched one Windows Phone 7 device, the Dell Venue Pro, back at the platform’s initial launch, but is conspicuous by its absence at the Mango preview today.

That could be a sign that the company is pulling back its investment in Windows Phone and instead looking to focus on Android instead. There’s still only one WP handset in the Dell line-up, whereas in the same period it has released several pieces of Android phone/tablet hardware.

Windows Phone also doesn’t fit into Dell’s software strategy, with the company’s plans for the Dell Stage interface – including automatic PC/phone sync – not working with Microsoft’s locked-down attitude toward its platform. We’ll have to wait and see what Dell and Microsoft confirm – if anything – but we’re guessing this could be a case of three in, one out.