LAS VEGAS -- I don't even know how to start describing the Alcatel Pixi 3 I saw at CES 2015, because there's no single phone to see. There are 24.
Alcatel is starting with four base configurations and letting carrier partners choose the data connection (4G LTE or 3G) and the operating system (Android, Windows Phone, Firefox).
So, the Pixi 3 that shows up in your country could be anything from a 3.5-inch Firefox OS handset with a 1GH dual-core processor and 5-megapixel camera to a 5-inch Android 5.0 Lollipop phone with an 8-megapixel camera and quad-core chip.
If this isn't confusing enough, the carriers also get to choose among seven eye-melting fluorescent shades, including black (but not white). This is also a future Pixi 3 owner's chance to splash out a bit; they'll be able to acquire a different colored back cover to pop on.
With so much up in the air, there is just one constant in the Pixi 3, and that's its status as an inexpensive entry-level phone. Rounded edges and a plastic design remain rock-steady across all the device permutations.
Although there's no pricing structure yet (that will depend on the set of specs a carrier picks), you can bet it'll be on the more budget end of the scale, the market segment that Alcatel really dives into.