Bellevue, Wash. — HTC will offer a Windows version of its flagship One smartphone for the first time with today’s launch of the HTC One M8 for Windows.
The M8 was launched with Android 4.4 earlier this year to replace the previous-generation Android One.
The Windows Phone 8.1 version is available today through the Verizon Wireless web store at a limited-time promotional price of $99 with two-year contract or, unsubsidized without contract, for $29/month for 20 months on the Verizon Edge installment-payment program.
The phone will be available Wednesday in Verizon stores, and Microsoft Stores will offer the device along with a special offer for a free HTC Dot View case and screen protector for $25. The case, when closed, displays email and text notifications, weather data and the like through its perforated front cover. The case also displays info requested via voice through the Windows 8.1 Cortana personal digital assistant.
Like the Android-based M8, the M8 for Windows features a 5-inch 1080p display, all-metal unibody design with curved back, 2.3GHz quad-core CPU, 2GB RAM, 32GB storage, 128GB MicroSD card slot, dual front-facing stereo speakers with built-in amplifiers, and HTC UltraPixel back camera whose larger pixels take in more light in low-light situations than standard-size megapixels. The main camera also features BSI sensor, f2.0 28mm lens and 1080p video capture. A second back camera captures depth information and enables special effects, such as blurring a person in the background after a picture is taken.
The front 5-megapixel camera also features BSI sensor, wide-angle lens, and 1080p video capture.
The 5.6-ounce Windows Phone 8.1 phone is global-ready via quadband GSM/EDGE, quadband 3G with HSPA+ up to 14.4 Mbps, dual-band CDMA and quadband LTE.
The device also features NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 with AptX, dual-band Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, and MicroMHL-enabled MicroUSB port.
