T-Mobile Wing gets unboxed

MyMobile911 has somehow managed to acquire a "production package" of T-Mobile's upcoming Windows Mobile 6-equipped Wing, and perhaps the most interesting news here is that it is, in fact, called the "Wing." Previous reports had suggested that execs weren't happy with the name, but hey, they could call it "Poo" for all we care -- the fact that retail packaging is in the wild suggests that a release could very well be imminent. The box's contents turn out to be pretty standard fare: a charger, stereo headset, cables, software, and a handful of manuals, though one gem is the audio/charging dongle that appears to let you juice the battery and rock out at the same time. With the MDA axed from the lineup, T-Mobile's Pocket PC-less shelves are looking a wee bit bare; Wing, you can't possible get here soon enough.

[Thanks, Wally S.]

[randy @ May 11th 2007 6:24PM]

Does it require a stylus?

[JBo @ May 11th 2007 7:21PM]

These slidy keyboard phones seem like a good idea, but I really hated my MDA. It was a pain in the butt. I LOVE my Dash though.

[Jeff R @ May 11th 2007 8:30PM]

may 21st

[BB @ May 12th 2007 10:59AM]

What do you like about the Dash that you didn't like about the MDA? I am looking to get a Dash but I was thinking of waiting for the Wing to be released.

[rod @ May 11th 2007 8:16PM]

As much as I'd like to have a thin smartphone like the dash or the Q, the fact that I use a lot softwares that require a stylus pretty much guarantee that I need something along the lines of this or the 8525.
Try running Netter's, stedman's, taber's and isilo on a smartphone edition with its smaller screen... probably won't even run and if it does, it'll be a strain on the eye.

[xxdesmus @ May 11th 2007 9:19PM]

Care to enlighten the rest of us about how you "know" this? (I'll be happy if it is true...I am either getting this phone or the Dash).

[Jeff R @ May 12th 2007 7:59PM]

friends at tmo confirmed it. place our order or visit a retail store.

[Conneka Neal @ May 21st 2007 1:42PM]

Did you hear another date? I went on line and no go.

[dkelly @ May 11th 2007 11:02PM]

Just do some research on Howard Forums and even look under the "Herald" on You Tube.

It is a repackaged Herald that does not have Edge and has only a 201 mhz processor - but faster memory makes it faster than the MDA / 8125. And even a little faster than the Dash. Thinner than the MDA, a somewhat repulsive blue and black color scheme for at least the initial release, it has been called "perhapd the perfect phone for someone without 3G"

See BG review of the HTC Herald

All the rumors and in fact word from T-Mobile is that it is releasing either May 21 or May 22.

I think this is a fair summary of the Wing.

[dkelly @ May 11th 2007 11:04PM]

whoops - I meant to write it does not have 3G - but only Edge

[Ryan @ May 11th 2007 11:57PM]

Looks a lot like the Telus P4000

http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/04/17/the-htc-p4000-for-telus-in-the-flesh/

[Saffy @ May 12th 2007 1:09AM]

Man, that processor was slow as hell when I bought it in my MDA last March. I got all excited about replacing it with something smaller. But I am not paying money for the same phone after a diet and a makeover, and have to get a different memory card to boot. The battery wasn't even an issue with me.

This sucks.

[xxdesmus @ May 12th 2007 10:01AM]

So my big question is:

Dash or Wing? I love the "feel" of the Dash, but I wanna see this in person as well.

[Michael @ May 13th 2007 2:08PM]

I have a Sony Ericcson T-610 and Sony Clie, and have been interested in a smart phone. I had the MDA recommended to me, and the moment after the first one arrived, the nightmare began. The MDA took over half an hour to sync to my Outlook on my WinXP machine. The MDA then required between 45 and 110 seconds to transition from the touch of the screen to the calendar page. I tried several maneuvers and couldn't "fix" it, so I ordered another replacement MDA. While I waited, I went to the T-Mobile store. Silly me, I figured it was T-Mobile, but they were very clear that they couldn't help me. I called around the city trying to find a T-Mobile employee that specialized in the MDA, but no one seemed to tell me anything more useful than "the more you have on it, the slower it'll go." I only used half of the available space. In talking with friends, a few of which had MDA's and were (also?) "intensive" users, my space usage was nothing impressive. But I bought a 2 Gig memory stick. Couldn't really tell if it helped. I was on a time-line, so I went to the T-Mobile store again and bought another, now third, MDA. Same story. I called the T-Mobile tech support again, and tried again, to get a specialist. Never did find any real help there. I tried the $60 Microsoft help line. Apparently there's no one that speaks American English that supports Windows Mobile 5. I tried for over 4 hours, and never even got my problem addressed. (I laughed when the first guy, in India, told me he couldn't create a report number for me because his computer was down!) (Also, I'm trying to get over to the Mac, and was hoping the MDA might be a good go-between.) So, I decided to scrap it, and return all 3 MDA's. That was the lesser Nightmare part. It's been a couple of months now, and, after 5 phone calls and 3 supervisors, I think we've finally got the billing and plan stuff all sorted out and I'm authentically back where I began. The T-610 and Clie really aren't so bad ;).

[ryanworrell @ May 14th 2007 8:44AM]

Spoke with t-mobile rep yesterday. It is confirmed that it'll be available for retail purchase and upgrade May 22. It will be blue, but he said keep an eye out for an orange one later. WTF anyone would want this in orange, I don't know.

[jeyges @ May 19th 2007 9:07AM]

I saw one in a T-Mobile store a couple of days ago; the salesperson had just received one and brought it out to show me. Although blue certainly wouldn't be my first choice, the color scheme isn't bad; it's a richer, darker navy than it appears to be in any of the pictures online. That wouldn't be a deal-breaker for me.

I played with it for a while, and was rather impressed (but I've had very little experience with smartphones or Windows Mobile; I'm just now giving up my Palm). One thing I liked - it has a predictive text function for the calendar, so entering an appointment was a little faster than it would be otherwise. Also, it allows for text entry via a pop-up data-entry screen, which can be toggled between keyboard and handwriting recognition. My Tungsten T5 has that; I don't know whether the MDA had it.

One thing that's different from the MDA is that the keyboard slides out to the right, rather than to the left, so that the navigation buttons are on the left in landscape mode. I don't know how I feel about that. I'm right handed, so my inclination is to prefer them on the right; however, I suppose they aren't in the way now when a right-handed person uses the stylus.

The salesperson also told me that May 22nd is the release date.

For the person who was asking about the Dash - I played with that for a while as well. That tiny keyboard is not easy! Also, I can see that what everyone has been saying about the volume touch control is true; it's right where your thumb will be - again, if you're right-handed. It would be difficult not to adjust the volume by mistake. I did see something online about a replacement for the Dash being imminent, however.

[jeyges @ May 19th 2007 9:12AM]

Oh - two more things. It's only very slightly thicker than the Dash, and felt as though it weighed about the same. It's a little smaller in the other dimensions. Also, the keys are flat, as opposed those on the HTC/Cingular 8525, which are a little raised, so they aren't as easy to distinguish.

[justin @ May 19th 2007 12:52PM]

replacement for the Dash?? - what do you mean? Like a new device that's similar to but a different model? Or an upgraded version of the Dash?

[Jeffrey Eyges @ May 19th 2007 6:04PM]

I saw a not-too-clear picture with a brief comment. It seems to be similar, but a different model. Also, I think, from HTC.

[shoupgroup @ May 21st 2007 8:18PM]

An in-store T-mobile sales rep told me today that they are releasing a new Dash with WM6. Also, he confirmed the Wing will drop tomorrow, 5/22!

[Jeffrey Eyges @ May 19th 2007 6:12PM]

Actually, here's an Engadget post about it from back in November. The picture I saw didn't look like this, but, as I said, it wasn't very clear.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/the-htc-cavalier-followup-to-the-excalibur/

[Thomas @ May 21st 2007 2:32PM]

Just came back from the T-Mobile store. An associate let me mess around with the WING. It is being released tomorrow, 5/22, as we all knew. But the pricing is going to be different! When I spoke to customer care I was told it was $249 for an upgrade with a 2 yr contract. The retail store told me $249 is only for new customers, $349 for current customers, both require 2 year contracts. I guess I'll know for sure tomorrow.

[Conneka Neal @ May 21st 2007 2:42PM]

Thanks, why the current customers get screwed that way! I have been with voicestream/tmobile for 6 years and they are trippin to make it 100.00 more. I spoke to a rep just a few minutes ago and he said there is a rebate with upgrade, so hopefully that will help.

[sha @ May 21st 2007 11:31PM]

Is the Wing touch screen or not

[yoshi @ May 22nd 2007 2:59AM]

i just ordered my wing today its 349.99 then you also get a 50 dollar mail in rebate so 299.99 we dont need a memory card to make this phone work do we?

[jeyges @ May 22nd 2007 6:09AM]

Review of the Wing on CNET this morning:

http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/t-mobile-wing/4505-6452_7-32452858.html?tag=cnetfd.mt

[jeyges @ May 22nd 2007 12:39PM]

And PCMag:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2134436,00.asp

[Tommy Aiello @ May 23rd 2007 1:15AM]

Man I am dying for a new phone, I have an HP6315 since its release, & I love it still after all this time, I have mad programs on it I have a 4gig card for my music & games, but I just want somthing smaller with Navigation, Im @ cross road, do I go for the Wing or the BB 8800, The Dash does nothing for me @ all.
PS none of these phones have Wi-fi, which works awesome when in hot spot.
HELP!

[Thomas @ May 23rd 2007 2:48PM]

The wing & dash have wifi.

[The Thomas J @ May 23rd 2007 7:20PM]

Any news on when the new Dash is going to look like, & when is it coming out?

[JoshPro @ May 27th 2007 4:38PM]

I would love this phone especially since my blackberry pearl just broke down on me