Irvine, Calif. – Alcatel OneTouch is expanding the selection of unlocked phones that it offers direct to consumers through its website with the addition of the flagship LTE-equipped Idol 3.
The Android Lollipop 5.0.2 phone will be available for preorders April 21, with preorders shipping in May, at $249.
The phone, introduced at the Mobile World Congress, is the first globally released flagship from the company. It also represents the first OneTouch flagship available to U.S. consumers through the company’s online store at launch, the company said. The phone works on the T-Mobile and AT&T networks.
Steve Cistulli, senior VP/general manager of Alcatel One Touch North America, said the company “partnered with top brands like Qualcomm, JBL and Technicolor to bring a truly flagship experience at an accessibly affordable price.” The company has always differentiated itself “by challenging the expectations of what consumers experience for their money,” he said.
The device is the company’s first phone with a user interface and symmetrical design that always appear rightside up even if the phone is held upside down. Other key features include 5.5-inch FullHD IPS Display (1,920 by 1,080) with Technicolor Color Enhance for greater viewing angles, including in direct sunlight.The phone also incorporates Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 64-bit 1.7GHz octacore processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB memory, 128GB MicroSD slot, 150Mbps LTE, VoLTE, 13-megapixel F/2.0 main camera with Sony IMX214 sensor, and 8-megapixel wide-angle front camera. It also has dual 1.2-watt front-facing JBL stereo speakers, Harman Clari-Fi technology to improve the sound quality of compressed music, and 2,910 mAh battery with up to 13-hour talk time.
Earlier this year, Alcatel OneTouch began supplementing smartphone sales to U.S. carriers and MVNOs with the U.S. launch of direct-to-consumer sales of unlocked phones, unlocked cellular-equipped tablets, smart watches and accessories. The Amazon-powered site is at AlcatelOneTouch.us.
Launching direct-to-consumer sales lets the company “form a more direct relationship with our customers” and represents “a natural progression of our growth in North America,” Cistulli said at the time.
A total of 12 phones, two tablets, a smart watch and accessories are available through the site.
