Alcatel OneTouch just announced three new devices hitting Canada’s TELUS prepaid and Koodo networks just in time for the back-to-school crowd. The first is their POP Icon that actually debut last week on TELUS prepaid and Koodos. The second device is the first true octa-core powered smartphone in North America – the new IDOL X+ that will be available August 20. The third device is their POP 8 tablet, starting August 20 only at TELUS. All three devices will have a two-year manufacturer’s warranty and Steve Cistulli, Senior Vice President of North America for ALCATEL ONETOUCH said, “We’re excited to expand our footprint in North America through this new partnership with TELUS and Koodo. Through partnerships like these we continue to gain traction with consumers, which align with our commitment to offer premium designs and easy-to-use features across all our devices, complemented by affordability for our customers.”
The high-end IDOL X+ will be priced at $0 on a two-year term with a minimum of a $45 a month plan or you can purchase it outright for $350. It features a 5-inch Full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and 440 Pixels-Per-Inch (PPI). It is powered by a MediaTek Octa-Core processor clocked at 2.0GHz with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, expandable to 32GB via a MicroSD card. It sports a 13MP main camera with autofocus, LED Flash 4X Digital Zoom and EIS Video stabilization – a 2MP Front-Facing Camera (FFC) is available for Video Chatting and selfies. A 2500mAh battery powers the unit and it will be running Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box.
The OneTouch POP Icon is designed strictly for the budget conscious at $150 on TELUS Prepaid. It has a 5-inch qHD display (not to be confused with a QHD) with a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels. A Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz powers it with 1GB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage, although it can be expanded 32GB via microSD Card.. It has a 5MP main camera with autofocus and LED Flash with a VGA FFC. It is powered by a 2000mAh battery.
The Alcatel POP 8 is an entry-level tablet with an 8-inch IPS display with a 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, giving you a mere 189 PPI. Power comes by a MediaTek MT8382 quad-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz with 1GB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage – although there is a microSD card slot that allows you to add an additional 64GB of storage. The main camera is 2MP and it does allow for video – the front-facing camera is of the VGA variety. It also carries Bluetooth 4.0 and a microUSB port and does not have 4G capability. The entire device is 209 x 123 x 7.9mm and weighs in at 325 grams.
Kevin Banderk, vice-president, Mobility Solutions at TELUS said:
“Part of our ‘Customers First’ commitment is offering our customers a diverse line-up of the latest devices at various price-points that suit their unique needs. The IDOL X+ and POP Icon smartphones and POP 8 tablet are the first smart devices from ALCATEL ONETOUCH to be offered by TELUS. Paired with TELUS’ value-add programs like Easy Tablet and Device Care, the devices’ quality hardware and software and incredibly affordable prices, make them the perfect companion for anyone.”
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