HTC Touch Dual launching in the US this weekend courtesy of Best Buy

At first, we were all stoked at the realization that it took HTC shy of two months to go from announcement to availability of its US-flavored Touch Dual, but then we had this wet blanket thrown on us when we reflected on the fact that it's been like six months since the European model was first shown. No bother -- at least the US model will be among the very first devices anywhere to ship with Windows Mobile 6.1 out of the box, which is kinda cool. Best Buy will be offering the phone starting this weekend for $549.99 unlocked, available on its website or directly from "select" Best Buy Mobile locations around the country, so try not to let those visions of Diamonds distract you too much while you're whipping out the credit card.

[Craig @ May 23rd 2008 2:50PM]

Slap a QWERTY in there and I'd consider it.

[Lein @ May 23rd 2008 3:13PM]

Seconded. The HTC Blue Angel is a good example of the fact that they know HOW, they just chose not to.

[David @ May 23rd 2008 4:05PM]

Agreed

I had the SX66/Blue Angel- nice from factor. Although, I think this phone would need to have a larger form factor to fit a full qwerty that is usable. Picture a Blue Angel with its 3.5" screen but on a diet.

Either way this phone is too expensive it needs to be $200 max, although that would involve a contract.

[computer.dude.28 @ May 23rd 2008 5:12PM]

I'll just be happy when I get my HTC 5800 in a few weeks.. Goodbye, samsung m500 :D

[bartoron @ May 23rd 2008 2:54PM]

Best Buy employee: "Well, sir, if you want to enjoy this cell phone to its full potential, you'll have to buy this $300 Monster HDMI cable."

Customer: "What does an HDMI cable have to do with a cell phone?!"

Best Buy employee: "I dunno, but my manager told me that I have to sell 20 of them today."

[NHAnimator @ May 23rd 2008 3:40PM]

"...and if you fall for that, I've got an extended warranty I'd like to talk to you about."

[Alexander @ May 23rd 2008 4:14PM]

Except that BB Sales Associates are not on commission.

[egloskerry @ May 23rd 2008 5:09PM]

Except that everyone in BBYM has gone through a five-day training. Don't you just love the superiority complex some Engadget readers have? Why don't you come into my BBYM and I'll watch you walk out scratching your head when I or any other associate in my department that I've trained knows a ton more than you about phones.

[nerdtalker @ May 23rd 2008 5:15PM]

Don't forget the:

1. Monster Power Strip Voltage Stabilizer PowerAV TheaterCenter
2. Monster Mobile® Ultra-Low Profile Car Charger
3. Monster Mobile® 8-Watt Wall Charge•it™
4. Monster Mobile® Leather Cell Phone Case
5. Grab-N-Go Executive Cell Phone Holster with Bonus Car Mount
6. Monster® iSoniTalk™ Microphone Headphone Adapter

[Carl Yakownski @ May 23rd 2008 2:56PM]

LOL

Another nail in Palm's coffin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kastonie @ May 23rd 2008 3:00PM]

It doesnt do 850mhz......wtf....i almost got excited

[ASukker @ May 23rd 2008 4:48PM]

Actually yes it does do the 800/850 Mhz spectrum. That is why it is taking so long for it to come out in the US

[Jonyah @ May 23rd 2008 3:00PM]

oh so true bartoron. thank goodness for monoprice and their $3 hdmi cables.

[kastonie @ May 23rd 2008 3:01PM]

SLAP ya FACE!

[MBS @ May 23rd 2008 3:03PM]

$549.99 and STILL no video drivers...

[LJKelley @ May 23rd 2008 3:12PM]

Get over it all ready. I have a HTC TyTN II and it works great as is and i'm glad I spent $500 on it.

And anyone who is paying for this phone knows what they are getting.

[MBS @ May 23rd 2008 4:04PM]

@LJKelley - That's good for you. Now, I have this bridge that I'd be willing to sell you for a very good price...

[spellprince @ May 23rd 2008 3:13PM]

$549.99 loul. Seat meet ass.

[Frank Furter @ May 23rd 2008 3:21PM]

Wow, only $549? Who needs an iPhone when you can get some HTC goodness! I'd pay at least double for that. And thank God it's running Windows, too. Have I died and gone to heaven?!?!?!

[Ishimaru @ May 23rd 2008 3:44PM]

Well, besides the whole "Windows Mobile" thing, $549 is a ridiculous amount for a phone, especially for QVGA. The iPhone set the price for a phone. HTC needs to learn from that or they will suffer. $400 is my limit, and even that is too much.

[Isaiah @ May 23rd 2008 3:56PM]

I agree. This thing has:

1. All the reliability of windows.
2. The great keyboard of an iPhone.
3. The awesome heft of HEAVY duty piece of kit.
4. And the style and slickness of a Dell.

... all wrapped up into something that couldn't possibly fit in your pocket.

They'll sell dozens. Maybe even hundreds. Sign me up!

Isaiah

[Brian @ May 23rd 2008 4:01PM]

Someone's sarcasm detector is broken...

[fred @ May 23rd 2008 4:51PM]

"... all wrapped up into something that couldn't possibly fit in your pocket."

What are you wearing, a size 0 in women's jeans?

[Landon @ May 23rd 2008 5:49PM]

As opposed to....a size 0 in men's jeans? lol

[Mobile Phone Diva @ May 23rd 2008 11:12PM]

Don't forget folks, that this phone is unlocked OUT OF THE BOX. It's a nomal price for an unlocked and unbranded from the factory PDA phone.

[Man Ching (Stanley) Or @ May 23rd 2008 3:52PM]

Don't you guys understand what is UNLOCKED and no CONTRACT? $400 for Iphone you need to sign two years contract with ATT....

[SharpShooter @ May 23rd 2008 5:55PM]

If you get a contract with your iPhone you fail at life. $400 for mine + shipping to Canada and I'm on Rogers. It is literally as easy pressing a single button to unlock+jailbreak+activate.

[Mobile Phone Diva @ May 23rd 2008 11:18PM]

I do. I buy most of my phones unlocked and unbranded. I think many people are so used to getting phones from carriers that they forget those phones are carrier branded and restricted, and that's what you put up with to get those discounts. Many US cell customers aren't used to paying for their phone outright.

[Steffen Jobbs @ May 23rd 2008 3:55PM]

non-iPhone = FAIL

Only $549 unlocked! Woohoo. Just what the world needs.

[fred @ May 23rd 2008 4:49PM]

You are really starting to act like a total ass lately.



It really makes me want to buy Apple products.
/sarcasm if it wasnt already obvious

[notafanboy @ May 23rd 2008 4:02PM]

im sorry fanboy,
but,
fact of the matter is, that the htc touch dual supports flash so i dont have to use a special youtube program to view videos. also it supports stereo bluetooth, has a tactile keyboard, gps, 3G, huge developer network of free programs you can use without voiding your warranty, microsoft exchange support, picture mail, video recording, and it is unlocked for worldwide support, as well as windows mobile 6.1 with threaded texting. and it is nearly as thin as the iphone

o by the way there are a huge ammount of accessories that are not proprietary. and also a user removable battery

and best buy service plans on phones are very nice because they cover accidental damage on phones which att will not and no deductable so get your facts straight before you bash best buy (mobile)


im out

[computer.dude.28 @ May 24th 2008 1:51AM]

I never knew you could fit so much ownage into one comment. Good one!

[Mark @ May 24th 2008 9:59AM]

Good luck getting all of those "features" working. I say this as an HTC Touch owner who has spent many hours fiddling with my phone to make it slightly more functional than an iPhone.

[FoundIt @ May 23rd 2008 4:07PM]

Bought it from http://www.htcTouchDual.com way before BestBuy had it.

[PS3guy @ May 23rd 2008 4:11PM]

It run window mobile no thanks I'll pass.

[Achilles @ May 23rd 2008 4:40PM]

$549 is pricey. What the hell is the Diamond going to cost???? Yikes!

[jbowk @ May 23rd 2008 5:24PM]

Please folks dont be an iPhone whiner about price because eventually price will go down but maybe if we whine too.. HTC will deduct the price. Nah... ill save my dignity. Besides its the price for getting new phones. Seriously how much will the diamond cost... CRAZY $$$!

[PCIV @ May 23rd 2008 5:43PM]

I personally love this phone, cept for one caveat. No Wifi is a deal breaker for me... as my HTC Prophet has everything this has, plus wifi, less the keypad. I never truly knew how fast I typed on T9 until I used the on-screen keyboard.

[omoks @ May 23rd 2008 6:25PM]

Will this phone work with ATT or T-Mo's 3g network

[Mobile Phone Diva @ May 23rd 2008 11:21PM]

Most likely on AT&T's 3G. T-Mobile 3G band phones are very rare as of now.

[Alex @ May 23rd 2008 9:06PM]

is bestbuy selling the 16 key or 20 key version?

[freakmarket @ May 24th 2008 12:17AM]

HTC is well known for HORRIBLY underpowering their phones ... i have tested Moguls ... ATT 8525s ... they all don't even have enough juice to play standard 320x240 WMV at 30 fps at 300k streams. PocketPCs used to play great video ... smartphones are very lacking in that department.

[bob @ May 24th 2008 1:24AM]

no 850, would this device work on the att network?

[J. Ortiz @ May 24th 2008 3:21AM]

It's quad-band so yes, it does have 850 and yes, it would work on AT&T

[j_broadway_1 @ May 24th 2008 6:05AM]

so....this phone will not work with sprint?!?!?

[Mark @ May 24th 2008 10:05AM]

No. And I don't think it has 3G either, unlike the Sprint Touch.

[notafanboy @ May 24th 2008 10:28AM]

Yes it has 3g for the us, it works on att's 3g network, also this type of phone will never work on sprint they use a CDMA network not a GSM network. So your only phone choices with them are cdma phones. Also the touch dual has a 20 key keypad, similar to the one on the blackberry 8110.

[Abob @ May 24th 2008 6:56PM]

looks estate of the art and mind blowing windows os... these must be the new iphone keeller?

[Matt @ May 25th 2008 1:13AM]

This was like realesed last month in australia with windows mobile 6.1