Microsoft Windows Phone 8 Launching Just Before Halloween
Microsoft is reportedly now sending out invitations to a launch event taking place in San Francisco.
TechCrunch reports that Microsoft is now sending out invitations for a Windows Phone 8 launch event on October 29, just three days after Windows 8 goes retail.
According to the report, the event will take place at 10 a.m. PST in San Francisco, but info on the actual location and who will be in attendance was not provided. The new mobile OS has already appeared on stage in recent months thanks to Nokia and HTC, but Microsoft's launch party will reveal everything the Redmond company has thus far kept under wraps.
The news arrives after AT&T said on Thursday that Nokia's Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 smartphones will be added to its Windows Phone 8 roster – both an AT&T exclusive.
"We welcome AT&T’s decision to offer the Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Lumia 820, which, when added to what we’ve witnessed in other markets, underscores the momentum behind our Lumia devices and the broader Windows ecosystem," said Olivier Puech, president of Nokia Americas. "Our continued collaboration with AT&T is an important component for Nokia’s success in the U.S. market."
Nokia calls the Lumia 820 a "game-changer inside and out," offering a 4.3-inch OLED WVGA ClearBlack display with Sunlight Readability Enhancement. Its specs include a 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 SoC, an 8MP camera, 1 GB of RAM, a microSD card slot, Bluetooth 3.0 and Wireless-N connectivity, and more. It will sport a thickness of 9.9-mm, making is slightly larger than a standard SSD.
The Lumia 920, claims Nokia, is its most innovative Lumia device thus far, sporting a 8.7MP camera with a Carl Zeiss lens, and PureView technology with Optical Image Stabilization. Additional features include a 4.5-inch PureMotion HD+ display, 1 GB of RAM, a dual-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 SoC, NFC capabilities, Bluetooth 3.0 and Wireless-N connectivity, and more. It's slightly thicker than the Lumia 820, measuring 10.7-mm.
"Exclusive to our customers and featuring unique innovations in imaging technology, wireless charging and a bright, sensitive display – all on the nation’s largest 4G network – the Lumia 920 will be one of the hottest phones for the holidays,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president – Devices and Developer Services, AT&T Mobility.
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October is definitely shaping up to be a busy month for Microsoft and its partners.
Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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joytech22 Lumia 920 please. At the moment my biggest want is that phone.Reply
I don't necessarily need it, but it would be a great complement to my aging Galaxy Nexus and if I liked it enough a daily replacement. -
mynameis1 awesome ! great that the consumer has a CHOICE! good to see cell phone companies have more then on avenue to produce.Reply -
SchizoFrog I have been awaiting the WP8 launch for a long time and I am looking forward to seeing the Nokia Lumia 920, the HTC 8X and most importantly the Samsung ATIV.Reply -
alextheblue samwelayeAT&T exclusive for BOTH?? Oh boy, there go the sales...We don't know the duration of the exclusivity. Regardless, a Verizon-capable "822" is planned, and hopefully a "922" will show up eventually as well!Reply -
acadia11 Gawd dayum that phone is ugly.Reply
The only good looking windows phone I've seen is the Intel prototype. I mean are there any style people at MS talk to the handset manufacturers , hire a fashion company, car company, or somebody because honestly these phones are ugly as f..k. -
lpedraja2002 1 more year till my contract ends, hopefully I can grab one of these for free by that time :)Reply -
back_by_demand acadia11Gawd dayum that phone is ugly.The only good looking windows phone I've seen is the Intel prototype. I mean are there any style people at MS talk to the handset manufacturers , hire a fashion company, car company, or somebody because honestly these phones are ugly as f..k.Sorry, Apple patented cool, currently they are suing the FonzReply -
soo-nah-mee I was under the assumption that the top 5 carriers in the U.S. were getting the 920. Now it's only going to be AT&T? That's a huge mistake IMO. I was ready to buy one on US Cellular as soon as it was available. Now I'll probably just get the GSIII. :(Reply