No US Release For HTC 8S

HTC 8S

(Image Credit: http://www.cnet.com)

The budget-friendly HTC 8S will not be offered in the United States according to a recent statement from the company, which is set on concentrating on promoting its high-end big brother, the HTC 8X.

This means American consumers will not be able to purchase the Windows Phone-powered smartphone. If they intend to acquire the HTC 8S, they will have to purchase it in other countries where the smartphone will be offered. This will definitely bring up the cost of acquiring the reasonably-priced smartphone.

The HTC 8S was supposed to be a low-cost smartphone that will be offered through T-Mobile, however, Microsoft reportedly settled on testing the 8960 chipset from Qualcomm, which is the same chipset used on the HTC 8X as well as the Nokia Lumia 820 and Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone devices. This indicates that the HTC 8S will miss the chance of receiving official support from a US-based mobile service provider.

The HTC 8S and the HTC 8X were unveiled last September 19 with the high-end HTC 8X being offered through T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T last November. Microsoft has dubbed the HTC 8X as its flagship smartphone for the Windows Phone 8 OS.

However, it may still be possible that an unlocked model of the HTC 8S to be offered through online retail outlets, which will make it available to consumers in the US.