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Windows Phone 7 lands Angry Birds

The game is finally available, priced at $2.99 in the U.S., months after Microsoft ruffled the feathers of Angry Bird maker Rovio.

Don Reisinger
CNET contributor Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.
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Angry Birds is available in the U.S. and internationally.
Angry Birds is available in the U.S. and internationally. Stephen Shankland/CNET

After a long wait, Windows Phone 7 owners can now get their hands on Angry Birds.

The phenomenally popular game, which lets users slingshot angry birds through obstacles to attack pigs, is available for $2.99 to U.S. Windows Phone 7 owners. It's also available internationally. To let users get a feel for the game before buying, developer Rovio is offering a free trial.

The Windows Phone 7 price on Angry Birds might surprise iPhone and Android handset owners. The game is currently available in Apple's App Store for just 99 cents. In the Android Market, users can download a free, ad-supported version of Angry Birds.

Angry Birds has taken a long road to get to Windows Phone 7. Last fall, Microsoft posted a Web site for its Windows Phone 7 platform that included an Angry Birds icon, indicating the game was coming to handsets at launch. However, Rovio quickly responded on its Twitter feed, saying that it had "not committed to doing a Windows Phone 7 version" of Angry Birds. It went on to say that "Microsoft put the Angry Birds icon on their site without our permission."

Microsoft responded, saying the Angry Birds icon was mistakenly added to the site, and took it down.

Following the spat, Microsoft announced in February that Angry Birds would arrive on its mobile platform in "late spring." However, last month, WinRumors reported that the game was delayed from its original May 25 launch date to June 29.

Earlier this month, Rovio partnered with Roku in a deal that will see Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons, and Angry Birds Rio come to Roku's Channel Store. The games will be available in new Roku hardware launching this summer.