ZTE ORBIT
ZTE announced its second Windows Phone smartphone, it’s the first Windows handset on the market with an NFC chip. The ZTE Orbit will run the latest version of Windows Phone O.S., Windows Phone 7.5 Mango with the Tango update.
The Tango-update adds greater support for low-end phones, a smooth working O.S. with only 256MB of RAM and a low-end processor. Nokia’s Lumia 610 is another handset with Windows Tango pre-installed. Both are low-end handsets.
Windows Phone 7.5 has a form of passive NFC support. Developers can include the NFC chip and make their own apps to use NFC. Microsoft did not programm any real OS support or NFC app so far. Windows 8 / apollo will support NFC.
Reviewers of the ZTE Orbit didn’t found NFC apps to take advantage of the NFC chip inside.
Nowhere seen the word optional, but optional NFC chip is possible of course (like ZTE’s Blade II).
The phone itself looks a lot like the ZTE Tania (ZTE’s first Windows handset). The Orbit has a chrome bezel, one calls this very nice, the other says it look’s cheap.
The handset at the MWC didn’t had a customized UI, only some pink accent color was noted.
Available;
First for emerging markets and East Asia, but ZTE is interested in US and European market as well.
Shipping starts soon, (Q2 2012).
Specifications;
Qualcomm MSM7227A-1 1 Ghz processor
4 inch WVGA (800×480) screen
RAM 256 MB
EDGE 900/1800/1900
HSDPA 900/2100
5 Mp camera with LED flash
GPS
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 2.1
compass
NFC
HD Voice
FM Radio
Source; wpcentral.com, specifications appear on Orbit handset on youtube video.