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Smartphone buyers willing to shell out some cash to grab an unlocked version of the HTC One now have their chance.
HTC is selling an unlocked edition of its new flagship phone for $574. The unlocked flavor comes with 32GB of on-board storage and sports the same features found in the carrier-based version.
The unlocked phone comes on the heels of the debut of the HTC One Developers Edition earlier this month. That model costs $649 but comes with 64GB of storage and includes an unlocked bootloader for people who want to root and modify the phone with custom ROMs.
For people who’d rather spend less and don’t mind being tied to a two-year contract, the HTC One is available through AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. Reports have also suggested that Verizon Wireless will add the phone to its lineup.
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The HTC One was late to the party due to a limited supply of the phone’s camera. Last month, HTC Chief Marketing Officer Benjamin Ho told The Wall Street Journal that the phone’s camera was specifically designed for the company and “production cannot be ramped up so quickly.”
However, an unnamed HTC executive also told the Journal that LG has had trouble getting components because it keeps changing its order estimates following a drop in phone shipments. As a result, suppliers no longer consider HTC a “tier-one customer.”
HTC’s first-quarter earnings were hurt by the phone’s delayed debut. By offering both locked and unlocked versions of the new smartphone, HTC is now clearly trying to hit as much of the market as possible.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/CNET
