verizon

With today's announcement of Windows Phone 8, Microsoft shed a little light on hardware availability. Windows Phone 8 devices will become available through various European providers this weekend. We will see U.S.. and global availability roll out through the month of November.

In the U.S.. Market look for look for Verizon to offer the Lumia 822, HTC 8X and a new Samsung Odyssey (December release). AT&T will offer the Lumia 920, 820, and the HTC 8X. Pricing was not made available for Verizon or AT&T and availability was described as "sometime in November".

Verizon HTC 8X (L) and the Nokia Lumia 822 (R)

As we get closer and closer to the big Windows Phone 8 reveal on Monday, some more tidbits are coming out about Verizon.

In this case, a tipster sent us these lovely photos of the HTC 8X (in “California Blue”) and the all-white Lumia 822, a phone of which we have never seen “real” photos of before but only a render in white. Personally, we think the device looks darn good in white and is a better choice than black (the other color it comes in).

Other info: the tipster confirms the leaked prices we had from earlier in the week. The Lumia 822 will be $99 on contract while the HTC 8X will go for $199—substantially more, but worth it for some due to its eye-catching looks and higher specs.

Leave it to perpetual leaker @Evleaks on Twitter to post an image of the upcoming Verizon Nokia Lumia 822.

We’ve seen the device before and have heard some negative feedback from those who are disappointed that it’s not the 920, but you have to admit the device looks nice in white—albeit in this tiny render.

The device features a 4.3” screen with wireless charging built in and is rumored to fetch for just $50 on contract. That’s not a bad deal though we’re hoping Verizon goes “big” with a flagship Nokia phone in the near future.

The latest rumor pins Verizon’s WP8 release schedule sometime in November, possible between the 6^th and the 12^th.

Source: @Evleaks; Thanks, Michael S., for the link!

Verizon has begun selling customer information, according to a report by Yahoo!. The carrier is passing on geographical locations, app usage and even web browsing activities to third-parties. This - as one would expect - has raised privacy questions.

The start of October saw Verizon start offering reports to marketers showing what subscribed customers are doing on mobile phones, including what iOS and Android apps are used in locations.

Midway through last week we saw the first real pictures of Verizon's upcoming Nokia Lumia 822 and then heading into the weekend learned a little more about it. Now, a posting over at the FCC reveals that the Lumia 822, may have checked in for certification. A filing for a device known simply as the RM-845 has cropped up with similar measurements to the Nokia Lumia 820, which the 822 is modeled after, and sporting Verizon's CDMA and LTE frequency bands. It also shows a MicroSD slot, which distinguishes it from other Nokia WP8 devices, like the Lumia 920.

The RM-845 is listed as having both NFC as well as quad-band HSPA 3G for international roaming. It may not be the flagship Nokia phone that people were hoping Verizon would get, but it's certainly a good first step. There hasn't been any concrete timetable announced, but with the likely Lumia 822 now in the hands of the FCC, we could possibly see it in time for Microsoft's October 29 launch of Windows Phone 8.

Source: FCC; Via:Engadget; Thanks for the tip, MaulerX!

Don't adjust your monitor

We’re not to sure what to make of this image from @NokiaPureview that allegedly shows the Verizon Nokia Lumia 9xx’s (aka "922") rear camera.

The image is blurry as heck but one thing is clear—we’re looking at something that is different. That’s not the Lumia 920’s camera bezel, with the familiar Carl Zeiss metal plate. But it’s not quite the PureView 808 either, though there appears to be a bit of a bulge, raising the camera upwards a bit. If that is the case (and now we’re speculating about a supposed image), then that does hint that Verizon 9xx has an improved camera of some sort (or a thinner body as rumored).

Revealed - The Verizon Nokia Lumia 822

Looks like there is not too much mystery left to discern from the Verizon Nokia Lumia 822. Images have now leaked out of the device showing a rounded 820 in black with a 800x480 display and an 8MP camera. Of course LTE is on board too, which should make users happy but should be expected.

The device certainly looks sharp but as we're sure we'll hear in comments, it's not the coveted Lumia 920. 

The HTC 8X is well on its way to Verizon

We're aware that Verizon is most probably going to stock the HTC 8X - in fact, it's pretty much a certainty. Not only has the Windows Phone been confirmed to be heading to the US carrier by its own roadmap, but HTC also hinted in one of its press releases.

If that weren't enough, a HTC 8X video sports a Verizon 4G LTE logo on the rear panel of one of the featured models. Just to ensure there's little doubt left. Here's some more good news as today it has been reported that the FCC has cleared the HTC 8X for docking.

Will only AT&T have the 920 in the US?

In today’s press release from AT&T making the Nokia Lumia 820 and 920 official, the word “exclusive” unfortunately was tossed in to the mix raising some red flags.

When addressing the Lumia 920 specifically it was used in this context:

“Exclusive to our customers and featuring unique innovations…the Lumia 920 will be one of the hottest phones for the holidays,”

To us that sounds like AT&T has managed to make a deal with Nokia to be the only carrier offering the flagship phone. While the Lumia 820 has been expected to go to T-Mobile and even Verizon, the 920 was always a toss up. Many people have been hoping big Red would finally get a top of the line Nokia Windows Phone. In fact, an earlier report from PhoneArena strongly suggested that to be the case.