Two rather interesting stories popped up today in regards to Windows Phone 7 hardware. The first comes via WPCentral where they outline some information they came across regarding job openings at Microsoft. the openings are for a new Hardware team which is to be a sub-group in the Mobile Communication Business (MCB) group.

Apparently MCB is, according the information found by WPCentral, tasked with improving Microsoft’s

..focus and processes to rapidly commercialize the new Windows Phone (WP) OS, software and services with our OEM and Mobile Operator partners. One component of this evolution is the Hardware group which is responsible for helping drive rapid commercialization of WP by active management of relationships and technical direction with key hardware partners.

Some of the jobs being listed are:

• Director, Hardware Engineering
• Technical Senior Program Manager “to help us design world-class hardware products”
• Senior Engineer 1; Senior Engineer 2

Next up is a post from Tom Warren at Winrumors suggesting that Steve Ballmer’s keynote speech to let us all know what Microsoft is going to want when it comes to the hardware requirements for the next generation of Windows Phone 7 handsets.

WinRumors understands that the company is planning to unveil support for forward facing cameras as part of its updated hardware specifications. It’s unclear whether Microsoft will announce this support next week or just an overhaul of CPU/RAM requirements. The company has RTM’d its first “NoDo” Windows Phone 7 platform update and is planning to make it publicly available in early March. “NoDo” will introduce support for Qualcomm’s MSM7X30 System on a Chip architecture.

This of course follows on the heels the news today that the ‘NoDo’ update won’t be released until March 7 (in Europe) and late fall for the ‘Mango’ update

[Editor’s Note: Is Microsoft planning on more direct input with Windows Phone 7 hardware? is a post from: winextra. –mrh]