Australian carrier Optus Mobile Tuesday announced plans to offer a mobile phone based on Microsoft's Smartphone software.

The phone -- the Qtek 7070 -- is the same one that Sweden's TeliaSonera and Hong Kong's Synergy Technologies introduced last week. It is made by Taiwan's High Tech Computer (HTC), which also makes the SPV phone offered by European operator Orange.

Microsoft's Windows Powered Smartphone operating system combines traditional PDA applications with the functionality of a cell phone. In addition to voice capabilities, Smartphones are loaded with the Outlook e-mail and MSN Messenger applications.

The tri-band GPRS phone has an integrated Secure Digital (SD) and MultiMedia Card (MMC) memory card reader, voice memory and speakerphone. Microsoft said it can host conference calls with six simultaneous participants.

Optus said the phone would be available in late June for about $320.

German operator T-Mobile last month delayed its Smartphone launch, citing service quality issues for its own network.