AT&T plans four new smartphone releases to customers on Nov. 7, unveiling new devices from Kyocera, Microsoft Nokia and HTC as the big-four cellular company continues to expand its product lineup. Along with the phones, AT&T is also launching a longer AT&T Next 24 installment plan to let buyers make monthly payments on new phones rather than pay for them up-front.
The new Kyocera DuraForce is a rugged, waterproof, 4G LTE Android smartphone that will be available starting Nov. 7 on AT&T’s Website or in AT&T retail stores on Nov. 21, according to a Nov. 4 announcement. The DuraForce will sell for $49.99 with a two-year cellular contract or can be purchased for no money down and $19.95 a month for 20 months on a Next 12 installment agreement (total $399). It can also be bought for no money down and $16.63 per month for 24 months on a Next 18 agreement (total $399.12) or for $389.99 with no contract.
The tough DuraForce is IP68-certified, which makes it dust-proof, waterproof and submersible in up to 6 feet of water for as much as 30 minutes, according to AT&T. The phone also has a reinforced housing and Military Standard 810G protection against shock, vibration, temperature extremes, blowing rain, low pressure, high altitudes, solar radiation, salt fog and humidity to be able to withstand use in harsh environments. The phone also supports AT&T’s Enhanced Push-to-Talk service that operates using 4G LTE or WiFi with the push of a button.
The DuraForce features a 4.5-inch 720p HD impact-resistant touch-screen that can be used while wearing gloves, a 1.4GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 16B of on-board storage plus an external micro SD card slot that supports cards up to 32GB and a high-capacity 3,100-mAh lithium ion battery. The phone, which also includes Kyocera’s Smart Sonic Receiver technology, which enhances audio clarity in noisy environments, runs on the Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system. It is also certified for use in hazardous work environments.
From Microsoft, the new Nokia Lumia 830, which runs Windows Phone 8.1, will come to AT&T’s stores and Website on Nov. 7, before it is available through any other U.S. carriers, according to a Nov. 3 announcement. The Lumia 830 will sell for $99.99 with a two-year service contract, for $449.99 without a contract or for $18.75 a month on a 24-month installment plan (total $450). It can also be bought for $22.50 a month on a 20-month installment plan (total $450).
AT&T is sweetening the deal with a limited-time offer to give customers a free Fitbit Flex activity-tracking wristband, valued at $99.99, with every new Lumia 830 that is sold.
The Lumia 830, which is the thinnest Lumia smartphone built so far, blends metal and polycarbonate design elements and includes a 5-inch HD display, 16GB of on-board storage plus a micro SD slot that can be used with a card up to 128GB, a 2,200-mAh lithium ion battery for up to 11 hours of talk time and a 10MP camera.
The new HTC Desire EYE, first announced back in October, will also be available exclusively through AT&T stores and the AT&T Website on Nov. 7, according to a Nov. 4 announcement.
AT&T Releasing 4 Smartphone Models to Customers Nov. 7
The HTC Desire EYE will be available in Coral Reef (white) for $149.99 with a two-year contract or for $549.99 without a contract. Buyers can also obtain the device using an installment plan at $22.92 per month for 24 months (total $550.08) or at $27.50 per month for 20 months (total $550).
The HTC Desire EYE smartphone includes a 5.2-inch full-HD 1080p display, a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, 16GB of memory, a 2,400-mAh battery and front-facing HTC BoomSound speakers. The phone, which runs on the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system, also includes a 13MP front-facing wide-angle camera with dual LED flash and a rear-facing 13MP camera. The smartphone is also IPX7-compliant, making it water-resistant up to 1 meter under water for up to 30 minutes, according to AT&T.
The other HTC smartphone launching on Nov. 7 in AT&T stores and online is the HTC One M8 for Windows, which was first announced back in August as a device that would eventually be arriving at AT&T. Verizon launched the device when it was unveiled back in August, according to an earlier eWEEK report. Both companies also already offer the Android versions of the HTC One M8.
AT&T is offering the new phone for $199.99 with a two-year contract or for $669.99 without a contract. It can also be purchased for $27.92 a month on a 24-month installment plan (total $670.08) or for $33.60 a month on a 20-month installment plan (total $672).
The HTC One M8 Windows phone includes an all-metal body, a 5-inch, full 1080p HD display; a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core CPU; 2GB of RAM; 32GB of storage; a 5-megapixel, wide-angle front-facing camera; HTC BoomSound front speakers with built-in amplifiers; and a non-removable 2,600-mAh battery.
To make it easier for buyers to obtain these new devices and the other phones in AT&T’s line-up, the cellular company is also launching a longer installment plan service to give buyers up to 30 months to pay for their new devices. The new AT&T Next 24 plan will begin on Nov. 9 and will also allow buyers to trade in their AT&T Next smartphones and upgrade to a brand-new device under a qualifying offer, if the trade-in phone is in good condition, according to the company. The new AT&T Next 24 plan will be offered in addition to the existing AT&T Next 18 and AT&T Next 12 plans.