A Windows Phone variant of the HTC One M8 has been spotted

Ahead of HTC’s Aug. 19 press event in New York, a photo leaked to PCMag suggests that a Windows Phone-based HTC One (M8) is on the horizon. The image (left) shows the handset running the Live Tiles home page found exclusively on the Windows Phone operating system. It is live on a Verizon Wireless URL, suggesting that the carrier will be offering the phone. HTC declined to comment; Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This would not be HTC’s first Windows Phone. In fact, in 2012, the companypledged to “go big” on the mobile OS. It released the HTC 8X, 8S, and 8XT, which landed on Sprint last year. But as HTC struggled to compete against Apple and Samsung, it doubled down on Android and the HTC One lineup, informally pushing Windows Phone to the side. Last year, Redmond’s OS chief Terry Myerson reportedly asked HTC to add Windows Phone as a second operating system option on devices that currently run Google’s Android. To sweeten the deal, Microsoft allegedly offered to drop the licensing fee typically required of handset makers in order to load the mobile OS onto their phones. At its Build conference in April, Microsoft went ahead and did that anyway for everyone – giving away Windows licenses for smartphones and tablets less than 9 inches.