14 DAY TRIAL // Windows Phone Mango, the next version of Microsoft's mobile operating system, is expected to arrive on shelves only sometime in fall, but the first mobile phone to run under it has been just spotted into the wild, the Acer W4.
Last week, Redmond-based Microsoft announced a series of features that should make it in Windows Phone Mango, and also unveiled new device partners that would support the release.
Acer was one of them and, unsurprisingly, the emergence of this device shows that the two companies have been long working on the release of Windows Phones.
Acer W4, the handset that might prove to be the first Windows Phone-powered mobile phone from this company, has made an appearance into the wild at the Computex 2011 show in Taipei.
The specifications list it would arrive on shelves with was unveiled as well, such as the large 3.5-inch touchscreen display capable of delivering a WVGA (480 x 800 pixels) resolution. The mobile phone would also include a 1GHz Qualcomm MSN8255 Snapdragon application processor, as well as 8GB of internal memory.
Moreover, the upcoming Windows Phone device should sport a 5-megapixel photo snapper on the back, with auto focus.
It would arrive on shelves with HSPA 850/1900 or 900/2100 /GSM quad band 850/900/ 1800/ 1900 MHz support, as well as with WiFi and Bluetooth 2.1 capabilities. DLNA support should be included into the mix as well.
These were the only details that emerged on Acer W4, it seems, though more would certainly become available as the mobile phone nears its availability.
From the looks of it, the new Acer smartphone would certainly sport a lower price tag than the current family of Windows Phones does, while being capable of providing users with the same features and capabilities.
Acer, as well as other new Windows Phone partners Microsoft unveiled, should bring the Windows Phone platform to more market segments than before, at more price points.
