There's no doubting that Windows Phone has gained significant momentum since Microsoft dropped its licensing fees for the OS earlier this year. In the last week alone, new Windows Phones from KAZAM, Polaroid and Alcatel have been revealed, and now there's news of yet another addition to the platform.
Based in the Philippines, Cherry Mobile has unveiled two new Windows Phones, along with a pair of Windows 8.1 tablets, as Yugatech.com reports.
The Alpha Style may well be the most affordable Windows Phone ever, priced at just 2,999 PHP (around $69 USD). To put that price into context, Microsoft's entry-level Lumia 530 has been priced at $115 off-contract, and even the recently-launched Blu Win JR costs $20 more at $89.
Key specs of the Alpha Style include:
- 4-inch WVGA (800x480px) display
- Quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200
- 512MB RAM
- 4GB internal storage (with microSD support up to 32GB)
- 5MP rear camera with LED flash
- 0.3MP front-facing camera
- 3G HSPA connectivity
- Dual-SIM support
The Alpha Luxe is also a lower-end device, but features a larger display and other improvements over its smaller sibling. Priced at 4,999 PHP ($114), its key specs include:
- 5-inch HD (1280x720px) display with Asahi Dragontrail Glass
- Quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200
- 1GB RAM
- 8GB internal storage (with microSD support up to 32GB)
- 8MP rear camera with LED flash
- 2MP front-facing camera
- 3G/'3.5G' HSPA+ connectivity
- Dual-SIM support
Both devices are expected to go on sale next month, but it is not clear if they will be available in other markets beyond the Philippines.
Alongside its new Windows Phones, two Windows 8.1 tablets have also been shown off, and both target the most price-conscious buyers. Like other low-cost Windows devices launched recently - such as the Acer Iconia 8 Tab W and Toshiba Encore Mini - it comes with a free one-year Office 365 Personal subscription, which includes 1TB of OneDrive storage.
The Alpha Play is the cheaper and smaller of the two, and Cherry calls it "your life in one device". Its features include:
- 8-inch HD display
- Quad-core 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z3735D processor
- 1GB RAM
- 16GB internal storage (with microSD support up to 64GB)
- 5MP rear camera
- 2MP front-facing camera
- 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth 4.0
- 3500mAh battery
- Windows 8.1 with Bing
Priced at 7,999 PHP ($182), the Alpha Play will be available to buy later this month, alongside its larger brother, the Alpha Morph. This ten-inch tablet features a detachable keyboard, but it is not clear if this accessory is included in its 11,999 PHP ($274) price tag or if it will cost extra. Its main specs include:
- 10-inch HD (1280x720px) IPS LCD
- Quad-core 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z3735D processor
- 2GB RAM
- 32GB internal storage (with microSD support up to 64GB)
- 2MP rear camera with backside-illuminated sensor
- 2MP front-facing camera
- 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
- USB OTG-ready
- 8000mAh battery
-
Bluetooth 2.0
- Windows 8.1 with Bing
Cherry Mobile may not be well known internationally, but even local and regional partners being added to the Windows and Windows Phone ecosystem are important to Microsoft, as it continues to try to grow its market share in the mobile device spaces.
Source: Yugatech ~ Alpha Style / Alpha Luxe / Alpha Play / Alpha Morph
Via WPCentral | images via Yugatech
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