ZTE Windows Phone 8 handsets won't arrive until late 2013

YOU'LL HAVE A WHILE TO WAIT if you're planning to hold out for a ZTE smartphone running Windows Phone 8, as the Chinese phone maker has told us that they won't be arriving until late 2013.

Speaking to The INQUIRER, Chris Edwards, European marketing and development director at ZTE, admitted that the firm would be slow off the mark to launch Windows Phone 8 (WP8) devices, despite speculation that rival Nokia will launch its first WP8 handsets as early as next month.

"Although we haven't announced anything yet, I can confirm that ZTE's first Windows Phone 8 handsets will be arriving towards middle-late 2013,' Edwards said.

Edwards was unable to spill any further details about the company's upcoming Windows Phone 8 devices, but did tell us that the company is looking to stick to the "middle ground" in a bid to offer consumers cheap alternatives to products from "tier one" manufacturers.

He added that the firm will keep its future devices running both Windows Phone 8 and Android simple, capitalising on mistakes made by firms like Huawei and Samsung. Edwards said that "a lot of consumers buy a product and use just 20 to 30 percent of its features," a jibe at the overcomplicated interfaces and specifications found on higher end devices.

"We plan to concentrate on things that really matter: good batteries, fast speeds and decent cameras," Edwards added.

Despite this, Edwards said the firm will be looking to incorporate larger "4-4.5in" screens into devices looking forward, and also plans to take advantage of NFC and LTE connectivity, which could be arriving in the UK as early as next month, despite keeping to its promise of releasing devices that cost between €60 and €300.

Edwards was unable to say whether ZTE be joining forces with Everything Everywhere to take advantage of 4G connectivity here in the UK. µ