HTC One M8 for Windows Phone released in the U.S. exclusive to Verizon

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

HTC has just released an HTC One M8 that runs Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8.1 operating system instead of Android’s current KitKat OS. While available only in the U.S. and only on Verizon, this strategy of offering identical hardware and functionality with a different OS seems brilliant. So why aren't other manufacturers doing it?

After all, most Windows Phones and Android devices are all but identical under the hood and run on similar ARM processors and chips. HTC”s move to replicate the HTC One’s outstanding build and feature set in the Windows Phone world, suddenly makes a lot of sense.

The HTC One M8 remains one of the most impressive Android flagship devices in the market right now. Even if it launched earlier than the Samsung, Sony and LG competitors, it still bests most of these devices in a number of areas. It is a great Android phone, now that Windows Phone variant has been released, it will be very interesting to see how other phone makers will respond (is creating a Windows Phone variant of an LG G3 or Galaxy S5 going to be a thing?) and more importantly we should see how customers react to suddenly having some premium handsets on Windows Phone that aren’t made by Nokia.

Source: HTC