HTC unveils signature Windows 8 phones

“Pairing HTC’s beautiful new phones with our brand is a big milestone for both companies,” said Gustavo Fuchs, director of mobility at Microsoft Middle East and Africa. “Together… we are offering customers in the Mena region a clear choice and a truly unique experience in line with their desire for the latest technologies.”

The new Windows Phone models are the only ones with Live Tiles, a unique way of customising the handset’s screen and which HTC and Microsoft have described as “groundbreaking, innovative and fresh”.

“Drawing inspiration from Windows Phone 8X and 8S by HTC, we wanted to create smartphones that clearly epitomise revolutionary technology, creative designs and incredible specs,” said Jon French, vice-president of HTC MEA.

“HTC’s Windows Phones are perfectly in line with our mission to place the consumer at the forefront of our business ethos and provide them with lifestyle-integrated innovation,” said Neeraj Seth, HTC MEA’s senior brand communications manager.

The Windows Phone 8X has 4.3-inch HD super LCD Gorilla Glass 2 screen, powered by a Qualcomm S4 1.5GHz dual-core processor and has 16GB of internal storage and 1GB of RAM. It is also NFC-capable.

In addition, HTC is introducing – for the first time – a 2.1MP, f/2.0-aperture, 88-degree ultra-wide angle front camera that supports 1080p video recording. Its main camera is at 8MP.

On the other hand, the Windows Phone 8S has a four-inch super LCD Gorilla Glass screen, a Qualcomm S4 GHz dual-core processor, and has 512 of RAM and 4GB of internal memory, expandable via its microSD card slot.

Both phones run and the Windows Phone 8 OS, utilise micro SIM cards and exclusively have Beats Audio technology. The Windows Phone 8X will be available in the UAE starting from November 10 and will be priced at Dh1,999, while the Windows Phone 8S will be arriving in early December, but with no price specified as of yet.

alvin@khaleejtimes.com