Windows Phone 8 Gains Additional Support

Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT) upcoming mobile operating system, Windows Phone 8, is getting two additional handsets from a key manufacturer.

HTC has unveiled two new Windows Phone 8 devices -- the 8X and 8S. The former will be a high-end smartphone with a 4.3-inch screen. HTC plans to release the 8X in 50 countries starting in early November, which will reach 126 different mobile operators.

HTC's other Windows Phone 8 device, the 8S, comes with a four-inch screen and will be sold in 52 countries. More than 146 operators are expected to offer the 8S to customers.

Wednesday's announcement comes only weeks after Nokia (NYSE: NOK) and Samsung unveiled initial batches of Windows Phone 8 devices. While Samsung's device, the ATIV S, is being viewed as a weaker alternative to its flagship Android-based phones (including the Galaxy S III), Nokia's products are making significant advancements in mobile computing. This is especially true of the Lumia 920, which offers a number of exclusive features that cannot be found in any other smartphone, including Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone 5.

The Lumia 920 features wireless charging, wireless docking, PureView camera technology, and a touch screen that is sensitive enough to be used while wearing gloves. These are just some of the improvements that Nokia made in building its chief Windows Phone 8 device.

HTC on the other hand, seems to be playing a game of catch-up. The company has announced that both of its smartphones will feature "studio-quality" sound with Beats Audio, as well as an eight-megapixel rear camera. The 8S also features a unique front-facing camera, which boasts a wide-angle lens that is designed to capture a large group of people in one shot, which may prove useful to Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) users that like to post directly to the site.

Both the 8X and 8S will "blend the virtual and the physical utilizing a three dimensional, pure uni-body design based on the Windows Phone Live Tiles," the company announced this morning. "The Windows Phone 8X and 8S by HTC are perfectly sculpted with a dramatic taper making them feel magically thin in your hand."

"Pairing HTC's beautiful new Windows Phone 8X and 8S with our brand is a big milestone for both companies," Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, said in a company release. "Together we are offering customers a clear choice and a truly unique experience. I'm thrilled to take our longstanding partnership to the next level."

"We've been inspired by Windows Phone 8 to create new smartphones that give the platform the iconic design and personality it deserves," said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation, who was also quoted in a company release. "Windows Phone has clearly emerged as one of the top mobile ecosystems and is competitive against any other smartphone platform in the world."

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