Windows Phone 8 Pre-Orders Reportedly Begin October 21

The Windows Phone 8 release is on the horizon, with Microsoft sending out invitations to introduce the phone and new operating system to the world.

The PC software-maker will be holding a press event this month to introduce the world to the new phone, reports International Business Times.

Microsoft has attempted to keep its new smartphone software under wraps by giving out limited demos, including one that showed off a more flexible home screen.

Greg Sullivan, Microsoft’s Windows Phone senior product manager, stated that the new smartphone operating system will be closely tied to Windows 8. Sullivan stated:

“There are a whole series of…new capabilities and features that will come that we haven’t talked about and there’s integration with Windows 8 that we’ll demo closer to the date.”

The Windows Phone release date will reportedly come in early November and it appears that manufacturers and network carriers have started to share more information about the upcoming new line of phones. T-Mobile announced on Monday that it will exclusively carry Nokia’s new Lumia 810, a variation of the Lumia 820 that was unveiled earlier this summer.

Meanwhile, Nokia’s flagship Windows Phone 8 devices will be the Lumia 920 and 820; they will be released exclusively through AT&T, according to Yahoo! News. Senior VP of Devices and Developer Services for AT&T Jeff Bradley stated:

“Exclusive to our customers and featuring unique innovations in imagining technology, wireless charging, and a bright, sensitive display — all on the nation’s largest 4G network — the Lumia 920 will be one of the hottest phones for the holidays.”

AT&T will reportedly begin preorders for the Lumia 920 and the HTC 8X on October, with Microsoft’s expected launch date will likely be October 29 in San Francisco.

While the Windows Phone only held 3.5 percent of the smartphone market share as of this year’s second quarter, the new operating system release could help Microsoft boost their share.

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