T-Mobile and MetroPCS will offer its customers the first Windows Phone 8.1 smartphone to ship in the U.S. The Nokia Lumia 635 will hit T-Mobile on July 5 and MetroPCS on July 18.
Windows Phone 8.1 is expected to be released later this summer as a free update to all current Windows Phone 8 smartphones. We recently reported on a leaked document that revealed Nokia's schedule of when it planned to roll out its Lumia Cyan/Windows Phone 8.1 update to its existing WP8 smartphones.
Microsoft has added several new features to Windows Phone 8.1 that puts the OS on a more even playing field with iOS and Android. Cortana is Microsoft's answer to Siri and Google Now. The digital assistant will keep users updated with reminders and also make recommendations to keep their life running smoothly. Action Center gives users quick access to all notifications and settings via swiping down from the top of the display, similar to Android and iOS.
T-Mobile and MetroPCS are the first U.S. carriers to offer U.S. customers a Windows Phone 8.1 smartphone.
"The Lumia 635 represents the next stage in the evolution of both the Windows Phone OS and the best-selling Lumia 521," said Jason Young, Senior Vice President, Marketing for T-Mobile. "The Lumia 635's advanced features, functionality and design - combined with its amazing price point - make this an absolutely screaming deal. And, once again, the Un-carrier is first out of the gate, offering up the Lumia 635 weeks before the other guys through both T-Mobile and MetroPCS."
The T-Mobile Nokia Lumia 635 will be available on July 5 via the Home Shopping Network as a prepaid smartphone. T-Mobile will begin offering the Nokia Lumia 635 through its online store on July 9 for $0 down + $7 per month. The Lumia 635 will be available from MetroPCS on July 18 for a limited time promotional price of $99 off contract.
The Nokia Lumia 635 features a 4.5-inch 480 x 854 ClearBlack Display and 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor. It has 8GB of internal storage, microSD expansion slot that will support up to 128GB microSD cards, and 512MB of RAM. The Lumia 635 has a 5-megapixel rear camera and a removable 1,830 mAh battery that will provide up to 12 hours of talk time and 648 hours of standby time.
If one is looking for an inexpensive way to try out Windows Phone 8.1 and all of its new features, the Nokia Lumia 635 is certainly a great place to start. Check out the video below.
