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Little is known about the recently announced HTC Mozart. The phone was just spotted in a small announcement by Australian network carrier Telstra which marks the device due for an October release date –right on time for Microsoft’s scheduled launch of the first WP7 handsets.

The news is confusing as it has no mention of HTC’s other WP7 handset, the previously announced Mondrian which is expected to sport some rather impressive hardware. The Mozart looks pretty much like a basic handset which means that it is likely that the phone only sticks the specified minimum hardware requirements given by Microsoft. The HTC Mondrian on the other hand is expected to have a 1.2 GHz CPU and other hardware specifications that will make it one of the most advanced smart phones to be released this year.

The Mozart comes with a basic smart phone form factor –that of a simple touch screen device with a large display and some buttons on the bottom. This makes the Mozart a type-1 chassis according to the standards that have been set by Microsoft.

In other Windows Phone 7 news, it seems that Xbox Live Games will be playing a much larger role in the new mobile platform. There have been reports that all app games for the OS will be going through this system and that the achievements system will be implemented across all games.

While it is confirmed that existing XBL users will be able to access their accounts and their avatars, many believe that the gamer points earned from the console will be counted differently from the ones they earn playing games from this smart phones. As for games, it is expected that WP7 will have plenty of app support (thanks to the early release of the SDK and WP7 handsets being handed out to some developers) despite initial reports that the new OS is hard to program for.

HTC were behind the Google Android flagship phone, the Nexus One, and their HTC Desire handset is equally popular, so many are eager to see what they’ll be able to come up with for Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 OS.

Open world games are one of the least likely genres you would ever find in a smart phone, but here it is Gangstar: West Coast Hustle is the illegitimate child of smart phone gaming and Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto series.

The relation between the Gangstar title and the fact that GTA was developed by Rockstar is no coincidence as Gameloft has designed this game from top to bottom to be a tribute to the open world legend. To settle expectations, this game is not a big or as grand as any of the 3D GTA titles, but with that said, Gangstar is still an impressive game to play.

Players take on the role of P. Thug (yes, we are not kidding you), and the point of this title is to explore the simulated streets of Los Angeles in any vehicle you like. Just like with GTA, players can run around city, steal any car they want and even run over people.

The graphics are pretty good for smart phone graphics, though it would be a good idea not to have any other app running in the background if you want performance. Just like GTA, Gangstar allows players to listen to radio stations when driving in a car, there is even a station that will play the music in your mobile phone.

The only drawback in this fun title is the controls. Sadly, there are time when you will want to bash this game in for its clumsy driving and impossible run and gun mechanics. Driving around for fun is easy, but when you need to do some high speed chases, expect to run into walls a lot as the controls of do not lend well to the turning mechanics at all.

Gameloft’s official website says that this 3D open world title will be available soon on the Android market.