Backing off on the standard specs allows hardware makers more flexibility to design phones for specialized markets and cut costs along with cutting features.
From PC World:
From PC World:
Microsoft quietly downgraded the hardware requirements for its Windows Phone 7 operating system in late September to make optional the inclusion of cameras in mobiles using the operating system.Microsoft Quietly Changes WP7 Specs to Allow Phones without Cameras
The move came just prior to the arrival on the market of phones running the latest version of the OS, WinPho 7.5 or "Mango." During the first iteration of the OS, Microsoft kept a hard line on what it wanted to see in WP7 phones, but now it seems to be backing off its standards.
