14 DAY TRIAL // On Tuesday, wireless carrier O2 announced plans to bring the new Windows Phone 8-based Huawei Ascend W1 smartphone to its network in the UK.
The new device will be released as an entry-level device, though still offering powerful features and capabilities to its users, courtesy of its dual-core processor.
Huawei also packed the new device with a long-lasting battery, while aiming at making Windows Phone 8 available for a broader audience with its first device powered by the platform.
The new mobile phone was announced at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas with a 4-inch IPS LCD 480 x 800 touchscreen with OGS Technology and a 10.5mm body.
Furthermore, it sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM8230 dual-core 1.2 GHz processor and Adreno 305 GPU, and a 1950 mAh battery that can deliver up to 470 hours of standby time.
The specifications list of the new device also includes 4GB of internal memory, along with a microSD memory card slot with support for up to 32GB of additional storage space. The handset also packs a 5-megapixel photo snapper on the back, with LED flash.
“Windows Phone 8 is tremendously exciting in terms of both its functionality and the practical benefits it delivers,” Mark Mitchinson, Huawei Device UK and Ireland executive vice president, said.
“With the Ascend W1, Huawei has created a product to put this fresh smartphone experience within reach of a much wider audience. O2's record of championing innovative brands and technologies is remarkable, and we are delighted to partner with it for launch of the Ascend W1 in the UK.”
The new smartphone also offers all the features and enhancements that Windows Phone 8 was packed with, including the new Start screen, a dynamic lock screen, and more.
O2 will launch the new Huawei Ascend W1 in two color flavors, namely blue and ruby-pink. No specific info on the handset’s pricing has been provided as of now.