Huawei announces entry-level Ascend W2 with Windows Phone 8

Huawei announces entry-level Ascend W2 with Windows Phone 8:

Chinese handset manufacturer Huawei has added to its fledgling Windows Phone smartphone line-up with the Ascend W2. The successor to the Ascend W1, this is the second smartphone from the company’s stable to run on Microsoft’s platform. According to the official press release, it will be available in China from this month, will be rolled out in Russia and Netherlands from November, with other markets to follow soon.

A quick look at the specifications of the handset reveals that the W2 comes with a 4.3-inch IPS WVGA display with TFT Magic Touch technology and a resolution of 480×800 pixels. Under the hood, the device comes with a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor clocked at 1.4GHz coupled with 512MB of RAM.

Huawei’s second Windows Phone 8 handset; the Ascend W2

The handset comes with 8GB of internal memory which is unfortunately not expandable. For photographers, the W2 offers a 5-megapixel rear camera, but lacks a front shooter. The device also offers 720p video recording and playback. Connectivity options have not been mentioned, although Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can be expected. The handset will be available for users in black, blue, red, yellow.

Here’s a quick look at the specifications of the Huawei Ascend W2:

• 4.3-inch IPS WVGA display with TFT Magic Touch, 480×800 pixel resolution
• 5-megapixel rear camera with 720p video recording
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
• 8GB internal memory, expandable memory not applicable

The company has said that the W2, being a Windows Phone, is cloud connected and the user’s content will automatically be synced to 7GB of free SkyDrive storage. Pricing would depends on the carrier and region, but given the specifications, the W2 would be competing against the Nokia Lumia 520. There is no word on how much the handset will cost in India, nor is there any mention of a confirmed release date for the smartphone.

Huawei launched its first Windows Phone, the Ascend W1, back in May. The biggest difference, apart from the bump up in the processor clock speed, is the lack of expandable memory, with the W1 offering 1.7GB of internal memory, expandable up to 32GB via a microSD card. Despite the growing number of Windows Phone models in its stable, it may be difficult for Huawei to break into Nokia’s tight hold on that market. Earlier reports had shown that the Finnish company, back in July,controlled 85 percent of the Windows Phone market. The closest competition, HTC, accounted for a relatively less 11.5 percent.