Rumors are circulating that HTC has scrapped a project that would produce a 5” or larger smartphone using the new Windows Phone 8 operating system. Apparently, HTC couldn’t justify going with the larger screen due to Microsoft’s strict screen resolution requirements.
While there are Android smartphones in that pipeline that support resolutions as high as 1080p, Microsoft has limited Windows Phone 8 to a maximum of 720p (for now).
According to Bloomberg’s source, HTC was looking to pick a fight with Samsung’s Galaxy Note II smartphone, which features a 720p display. By offering a 1080p competitor, HTC would have some bragging rights against Samsung’s offering. However, display parity wouldn’t do much for HTC, which has been battered in recent months in the smartphone market.
Bloomberg reports that HTC's decision will deliver a blow to Microsoft and its efforts to compete with Android in the smartphone market. Consumers wanting a large-screen smartphone will have no choice but to go with Android offerings if they are shopping from HTC.
