HTC's Windows Phone 8X has hit physical and virtual shelves at AT&T, priced at $99 for the 8GB version and $199 for the 16GB handset.

The 8X is one of the first phones to run Microsoft's latest iteration of Windows, which designed to integrate smartphones, tablets and desktop PC's.

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The phone itself has a 4.3-inch 1280c720p HD display, 1.5GHZ dual-core processor, 8MP rear camera and a 2.1MP ultra-wide front-facing camera which can take self-portraits of up to five people at once.

On a blog post AT&T boasted that it was the only carrier to offer the Limelight color of the phone.

However, the 8X is not the only Windows 8 phone being offered by AT&T. The carrier is also selling the recently released Nokia Lumia 920, similarly priced at $99 for the 8GB version.

The Lumia has similar hardware to the 8X, with a fast dual-core processor encased in a big vivid display. However, the HTC has better camera technology overall, a MicroSD slot which the Nokia lacks, and slightly higher pixel density on the screen.

It's also considerably lighter. The 8X weights just 130g, compared to the 185g Nokia.

Both phones offer refreshing alternatives to Google's Android and Apple's iOS. But there are some trade-offs, the most glaring of which is that Windows phones don't have anywhere near the number of apps you can find on Android and iOS.

At the last count both Apple's App Store and Google Play have 700,000 apps which users can download. At launch, Microsoft confessed to having only 3,000 apps available for Windows 8, although it promises 100,000 by January 2013.

This number pales in comparison to what Google and Apple can offer, however, those subscribers who choose AT&T for their Windows phones will be offered a tempting range of apps preinstalled.

Aside from the standard calculator, Office 2013 suite, and Wallet, these extras include AT&T CodeScanner, AT&T FamilyMap, AT&T Navigator, AT&T Radio, and AT&T U-Verse Live TV.

The final standout feature on the HTC 8X is Beats Audio. This proprietary technology adds enhanced audio making this one of the best sounding handsets in the market.

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