HTC has announced the $399.99 (roughly Rs. 26,000) price tag it had revealed at launch for the unlocked HTC One A9 smartphone is in fact a special "promotional pre-sale offer", which would end by November 7. This special price tag is for the region's online store and select HTC-only franchise stores.
The Taiwanese firm added that once the special price offer is over, the HTC One A9 would then cost $100 more, which is $499.99 (roughly Rs. 32,500) unlocked.
HTC further said that the price of the One A9 smartphone is roughly the same worldwide for its partners. However, it is up to the company's sales regions to set the handset prices, based on the local market prices. While the One A9 is priced at $499.99 in the US, it costs around GBP 470 (roughly Rs. 46,800) in the UK - translating to roughly $720. The company's official statement was posted by Android Central website.
"The cost of the HTC One A9 is the same worldwide to all distributors and operator partners. For end consumers, HTC's sales regions are given the freedom to set prices and promotions as they see fit for local market needs. The One A9 price in the US is a very limited-time promotional offer for that region's online store, as well as select HTC-only franchise stores. The offer is a special promotional pre-sale and is expected to conclude once the One A9 is available on-shelf at major retail and distributor partners. After the promotional pre-sale offer ends, the new price in the US at htc.com will be $499.99 beginning 12:01 a.m. on 11/7," said HTC in the statement.
HTC launched its One A9 smartphone earlier this week that looks similar to Apple's iPhone 6s. It is the first from HTC to run the latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS version. The company responded to criticism about similarities with the iPhone design, saying it used metal bodies with antenna bands on the back panel ahead of the Cupertino giant. HTC added it would be bringing the HTC One A9's design to future M and Desire series smartphones.
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