Microsoft announced Wednesday that it has finalized the code for the Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system, and that it's now up to device manufacturers and carriers to bring the phones to market.

"Our OEM partners and mobile operator partners have had test builds for quite a while; we'll turn it over to them and say we're done. Mobile operators will put their tiles on the home screen, and add their settings within the framework of our UI," said Microsoft senior product manager Greg Sullivan.

Unlike with Google's Android OS, wireless carriers and manufacturers can't heavily customize Windows Phone 7. Their contributions will be limited to their own "hubs," which appear as snap-in squares on the Windows Phone 7 home screen.

Full story: PC Magazine