14 DAY TRIAL // An unannounced mobile device codenamed HTC Ignite has just made an appearance on a Chinese website and seems to be the first Windows Phone 7 smartphone that does not meet Microsoft's hardware requirements.
According to the guys over at XDA.cn, the HTC Ignite runs on Windows Phone 7 platform and is powered by an 800 MHz processor, which falls below Microsoft's 1GHz limit.
Furthermore, the Ignite is supposed to feature a 3.7-inch WVGA resistive display, which again does not meet the Redmond-based company hardware requirements for Windows Phone 7 devices.
However, the rest of the features leaked seem to fall in line just fine: 512MB RAM, HSDPA 7.2 Mbps, HSUPA 2 Mbps and 5-megapixel camera.
Apparently, the smartphone is expected to be delivered with the latest Windows Phone 7 software update including the NoDo update, sometime in mid-2011.
Although the information regarding the phone's specs sheet seems to be a bit off, the HTC Ignite is real as the device was recently seen as a model at UK retailer King of Gadgets, along with the HTC Prime.
If the information is correct, the HTC Ignite might be the first 'entry-level' Windows Phone 7 smartphone available on the market.
If not, this is just another average WP7 smartphone that will likely stand out from the crowd thanks to its slim design, but not to its hardware.
As a reminder, Microsoft imposes Windows Phone 7 manufacturer strict hardware requirements, such as: 1 GHz processor, capacitive touchscreen, 512 MB RAM, 3G connectivity and 5-megapixel camera.
The Ignite might be the sixth Windows Phone 7 smartphone from the Taiwanese handset manufacturer available on the market. No word on the price tag yet, but it surely won’t fall in the “flagship phone” category.
Check out the super sleek HTC Ignite picture and stay tuned for more updates on the subject.