HTC is prepping to launch a new range of smartphones running Microsoft’s new Windows Phone 8 platform, with at least two major handsets rumoured to launch this month.
Pocket-Lint quotes a trusted source who has apparently confirmed that a second phone running the new software, known as the HTC 8S, would be joining the HTC Accord, which will officially be known as the HTC 8X.
The Taiwanese manufacturer will be bringing its name game over from the One series of Android smartphones to the new range of Windows Phone 8 devices, with the 8X being the flagship and the 8S being a mid-to-top-end device. We would expect a low-end device to join them, as with the One V in the Android range, and Pocket-Lint’s source did hint at this but wouldn’t confirm anything.
At present we’ve only heard speculation on the 8X’s features, with a 4.3-inch display rumoured. HTC is no stranger to making big Windows Phones – hello, Titan – so we would expect the 8X to have a larger 4.7-inch screen, while the 8S has a smaller 4.3-inch panel.
Microsoft is joining Nokia to reveal their first Windows 8 phones later on today, and we’re expecting HTC to confirm their first phones for the new software shortly afterwards. Due to Microsoft’s ‘best buds’ deal with Nokia, the Finnish manufacturer is obviously going to get first dibs on revealing new products, leaving other Windows Phone big guns Samsung and HTC to fight it out for second place.
HTC has just issued invites to an event to “find out what’s next” in New York on September 19th, where we’re expecting to see a duo or trio of new Windows 8 phones.
So far Samsung has announced but not shown its new Ativ S phone with Windows 8, and Nokia’s Lumia 920 has leaked several times. Other manufacturers such as ZTE and Toshiba no doubt have new phones in the works too, so it’s certainly going to be interesting to see how HTC’s new gadgets weigh up against the competition.
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