HTC on Tuesday debuted the new HTC One M8 for Windows smartphone, bringing an operating system option other than Android to the handset maker’s flagship phone. For now, the device is a Verizon Wireless exclusive and only available in the US. It’s available for either a promotional price of $100 with a two-year contract or $30 a month through the Verizon Edge financing plan. Customers can purchase the device online starting at noon Tuesday and at retail stores starting Wednesday.
The HTC One M8 is one of the most well-received Android phones of the year, so when Microsoft approached the company about making a new Windows Phone, it requested the M8 specifically. “The M8, as our flagship, has been doing fantastic,” says Jeff Gordon, HTC’s online communications manager. “Microsoft came to us a while back and, loving what we did with the HTC One M8 for Android so much, they wanted to do something similar, but running Windows Phone software.” The HTC One M8 for Windows has the exact same hardware as the Android M8 — with the familiar 5-inch full HD screen, Snapdragon 801 chip and robust “BoomSound” speakers — with just the Windows Phone logo beneath the “HTC” on the back betraying the operating system onboard. The phone is exclusive to Verizon for the launch, and it’s available today for $99.99 (with a two-year contract) or $29.99 a month under Verizon Edge.
