HTC Windows Phone to Hit Carriers…in Time for Windows 9 Preview?

Yesterday, HTC announced a new, high end Windows Phone handset that draws some much-needed heat to the beleaguered mobile platform. The issue, though, is that the HTC One M8 for Windows is exclusive to Verizon Wireless – at least, for the time being. AT&T has announced that it too will offer the phone soon, and it’s likely that more carriers will offer the phone before too long.

Today, AT&T published a press release announcing that it’s got a spot reserved for the One M8 for Windows already – but that “details on pricing and availability will be announced at a later date.” Chances seem good that pricing will be very similar to what Verizon is offering, which right now prices the smartphone at $99 with a two-year contract.

Meanwhile, HTC America’s president Jason Mackenzie spoke with TheNextWeb and explained that Verizon’s exclusivity deal will end, at which point other carriers will offer the device:

“Verizon is our exclusive launch partner. But our goal is to ultimately extend this product to even more customers later this year.”

The fact that the One M8 for Windows has received so much attention is definitely a good sign for the device, and could show that there’s more interest in a slick Windows Phone device than we’d thought. If more OEMs can put out desirable looking Windows Phone handsets – rather than the neon-colored bricks being pumped out by the now-Microsoft owned Nokia – then the platform may start to make more of a dent in the market.

A few other events may help Microsoft on its way to broadening the appeal of Windows Phone. For starters, rumors have been swirling that Microsoft is hard at work at a sensor-laden smartband. Meanwhile, we’ve heard that Microsoft is also planning on a fall timeframe to roll out their public preview of Windows Threshold, which is thought to be the codename being given to Windows 9.

If we get a high-tech Microsoft smartband that offers must-have wearable functionality, a new version of the company’s desktop OS, and a desirable Windows Phone handset, Microsoft may make a great case to draw more potential Windows Phone users into the fold.

[Sources: AT&T via Neowin, TheNextWeb]