Windows 8 Phone Models Up for Grabs at AT&T

The service provider is also offering a nice little freebie with the Nokia Lumia 920 By Rachel Cericola

November 15, 2012

Late last month, Microsoft hosted a big Windows 8 Phone event, announcing new smartphone models from HTC, Nokia and Samsung. Now, it looks like AT&T has a few of those goodies up for grabs.

The two models you can score right now are the Nokia Lumia 920 (MSRP: $99.99) and the Nokia Lumia 820 ($49.99). If you can wait another week, HTC’s Windows Phone 8X will be available right before Thanksgiving. The company will have an exclusive 8GB version in California Blue and Limelight (that’s yellow to you) for $99.99, or you can go whole hog and get the 16GB version for an extra $100.

The Nokia Lumia 920 has an 8.7-megapixel camera with advanced floating lens technology. In other words, it should be able to compensate for some of your unintentional shaky-cam effects. According to the company, the 920’s camera can also take in five times more light than the typical smartphone, which means better photos in lower lighting conditions.

The 920 features a scratch-resistant, curved 4.5-inch PureMotion HD+ ClearBlack display with Corning Gorilla Glass. It’s also sensitive enough that you can type with fingernails or with gloves. Other features include a Qualcomm processor, and the option to choose a phone in red, white, black, yellow and cyan.

However, one really cool perk is that the 920 has built-in wireless charging, which means that you can juice up the phone without actually having to plug it in. AT&T says that if you buy the Lumia 920, the service provider will throw in a wireless charging plate for free, for a limited time and while supplies last.

If you don’t need the all of the bells and whistles, there’s the Lumia 820. This mid-range phone offers the same look and sensitive touchscreen, as well as support for exchangeable shells. That means you can tweak the color and features, including the option for wireless charging. Other features include the same content that you’d find on the 920, such as Nokia Drive, Nokia Music and Nokia City Lens. The 820 comes standard in black.

For more bells and whistles, you’re going to have to wait for the HTC Windows Phone 8X. Coming next week, this model feels thin as a pin, but has a 4.3-inch 720p HD display, a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera, and an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture.

That 8X can also belt out some killer sound, thanks to built-in Beats Audio technology—a first for any Windows Phone 8 smartphone. That little perk includes an audio amplifier to power the 3.5mm audio jack and speaker for music, video and gaming.

AT&T is taking orders for all of the new Windows Phone 8 models now. Just know that each of the above prices also includes a two-year AT&T service agreement.