Microsoft And HTC Unveil New Windows 8 Phones
redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports – Your Universe Online
HTC unveiled two new Windows phones on Wednesday, both of which run on Microsoft’s new mobile operating system.
HTC CEO Peter Chou and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer unveiled the two new devices — dubbed the Windows Phone 8X and the Windows Phone 8S — during an event in Manhattan.
“We’ve been inspired by Windows Phone 8 to create new smartphones that give the platform the iconic design and personality it deserves,” Choi said.
“Windows Phone has clearly emerged as one of the top mobile ecosystems and is competitive against any other smartphone platform in the world.”
Both devices feature bright, colorful designs fashioned from lightweight, scratch-resistant polycarbonate.
The 8X includes a 4.3-inch, 720p high definition display, while the 8S features a 4-inch lower resolution display. Both displays are protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass.
The 8X and 8S both utilize Beats Audio technology for improved music playback, with the 8X featuring a dedicated 4-volt amplifier to boost the audio signal being sent to headphones.
The 8X includes an 8-megapixel camera – the same as the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy S III – and a user-facing 2-megapixel camera with an 88° ultra-wide-angle lens for improved video chats. The 8X utilizes a 1.5-GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor and the same dedicated imaging chip that HTC designed for its Android devices earlier this year. The new phone includes an f/2 lens and backside illumination for enhanced low-light performance.
The 8S comes with a 1-GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor and a 5-megapixel camera (but no user-facing camera).
Both phones will launch in November “through more than 150 carriers in 50+ countries,” HTC said. AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless will offer the phones in the United States, while Orange, O2 Telefonica, MTS, Three UK, T-Mobile and Vodafone will carry the phones in Europe. Chunghwa Telecom, Optus, Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (Singtel), Smartone, Telstra and Vodafone Australia will sell the phones in the Asia-Pacific region.
It is not clear which U.S. wireless carriers will sell the 8S, and HTC has not yet disclosed pricing for either version of the phone.
Mike Woodward, president of HTC America, told the Wall Street Journal that the new Windows devices would appeal to people buying their first smartphone — a large and lucrative market considering half of U.S. mobile phone subscribers still use traditional cellphones.
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2012-09-21 01:41:53
