AT&T page confirms HTC Touch Pro as "Fuze"
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Sep 5th 2008 10:22PM
posted Sep 5th 2008 10:22PM
[Thanks, Fred]
HTC FUZE™(touch screen)
HTC takes Windows Mobile® smartphone design to the next level with the introduction of the highly desirable and elegant HTC FUZE™. The multi faceted HTC FUZE™ is a 3G tri-band HSDPA Windows Mobile smartphone brought to you by AT&T, which allows you access to the world and to a world of features. Going on a trip? Whether it's a spring break cruise to the islands or a business meeting in Hong Kong, AT&T has you covered with the HTC FUZE™. With the largest international footprint of any wireless provider and the powerful HTC FUZE™, only AT&T customers can make and receive calls in more than 200 countries and on 75 major cruise ships. The HTC FUZE™ for AT&T also offers e-mail and Web browsing capabilities in more than 145 countries. The world is your office with Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional and the HTC FUZE™. Get full access to your Microsoft Outlook mailbox, contacts, calendar, notes, and tasks; edit Microsoft Office documents or view Adobe® PDF attachments; or take advantage of support for multiple email applications including Microsoft Direct Push, Good™ Mobile Messaging, and Blackberry® Connect™.
The HTC FUZE™ is a powerful smartphone that features a large VGA touch screen that includes HTC's one touch single handed operation TouchFlo 3D user interface for quick access to most used phone features. The HTC FUZE™ includes an AT&T defined 5 row slide out / slide away keyboard for quick text entry and ultra fast messaging. The HTC FUZE™ is one of the most integrated wireless smartphone on the market today. The HTC FUZE™ keeps you connected with email, text and instant messaging, Internet access, personal organizer, video, satellite radio, and more-all at broadband speeds. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS navigation, and Push to Talk round out the robust feature package making the HTC FUZE™ your "ultimate mobile smartphone".
Get to your destination quicker using voice-guided directions and real-time traffic information from AT&T Navigator. When work is done, relax with AT&T's Cellular Video (CV) service. Browse the web using a browser like the one on your desktop – zoom in and zoom out. Catch up on the most recent news or enjoy the latest music videos, HBO Mobile®, or sports on ESPN®. Download hot, new music with AT&T Mobile Music or stream XM Satellite radio.
Whether you're a mobile professional or a professional mobile user, the HTC FUZE™ is the "ultimate mobile smartphone" that allows you to be in charge of your life at work and at play -virtually wherever you go
too bad the screen doesn't tilt. The was and still is one of the main draws for my tilt. something as simple as the screen tilt has helped me be so much more productive. gosh.
I have an HTC Touch Diamond right now on AT&T, bought a Euro-version, all's well. You can install tilt into it. The developer's forum has tons of neat tweaks for everything, so that's really not a downside that it doesn't come with it built in--this phone actually has the best sense of its own positioning than anything else out there (see Teeter game in action).
@msied: He's talking about the screen physically tilting...don't think you can install software to do that.
he's talking about tilting the actual screen on the keyboard. not just the g-sensor.
The name somehow reminds me of "Vuze" the new Azureus Torrent client.
ATT tsk tsk
ALWAYS putting stupid names on phones.
Fuze reminds me of that terrible tasting drink. yuk
So now all i need to know is when is it coming out.... AT&T, please make it soooooooooooooooon
they keep re-naming it to keep people from realizing that it sucks
This phone, suck???? Dude what are you on. What do you think is better?
look at it, its software is nearly impossible to use!
Why is your profile set to private? what are you afraid of?
:)
Dozens of un-biased reviews (Ignoring the apple biased ones) have proven you wrong.
Am for one don;t trust anything microsoft. But HTC and Win/ Mob. 6 is a nice combo. I got to use a friend's Touch for a week and I fell in love with it. The best UI i ever played with. I can;t imagine how good this phone will be with the update 3D touch flow UI. Count on me on trying to get one. It's that ATT cost that will keep me from getting it.
@Stupid.
Its not the software that is impossible to use, its the dumbass user like you.
ever heard of an id10t error o_0 ?
My challenge still stands Engadget. Touch pro release, as many or more posts than the iPhone 3G got, and about EVERYTHING, the packaging/people in line/TINY nitpicks, EVERY DAMN THING, or I will completely believe that you guys are at least funded or partially owned by Apple Inc. And comeon, just at least give us a DECENT review of a WinMo phone, not like that crap-ass "(p)review" of the Treo Pro. Good day.
Why the Touch Pro, specifically? And also, what dire consequences do we face should your beliefs solidify?
@Chris
I think Christian might poop on your faces.
P.S. I like Touching pros
To show that there is some kinda justice in the Engadget world thats why. The Touch Pro is the first real heavy hitting WinMo device in a long time, and it should get the same treatment that the damn iPhone got, as well as a proper REview. Lemme set the record straight for myself though. I dont personally hate the iPhone, its just all of the masses that think it is gods gift to the world of cell phones. It doesnt do anything that Palm, WinMo, BB or anybody else has done before, and in many cases, it doesnt even do it aswell. Its a pretty slick thing, I will give it that...but then, what isnt nowadays? What I want is for OTHER companies devices to get SOME KIND of decent treatment, not just evey Apple redesign that passes through their doors.
I'm with Christian. I mean, come on engadget, the amount of page views you'd get from people commenting about how much they think windows mobile sucks would justify the posts in ad revenue alone! And then there would be all the people complaining about how engadget is now in Microsofts pocket because there are too many posts about a winmo phone, and then there would be the people begging for my iPhone news... It'll be great!
Seriously though, there has got to be enough of us who don't give a flying fnord about apple or the iPhone to justify a decent amount of attention devoted to a phone of this caliber after it launches in the US. If you don't believe me, run a poll if you must, but seriously guys.
@Christian: Preach it, brotha!
Well said friend... well said. The 3G coverage especially bothered me, so what - apple refreshed the looks of the phone and added something that should have always been there, sure it deserved some articles but not the full blow out that the original got. I have an iPod Touch and must say that the new firmware 2.0/.1 is slow during many instances and just not as responsive as it could/should be.
I walked into a sprint store today and asked for a touch diamond and the guy actually opened some boxes in the back trying to find one in the days mail but sadly none have shipped yet... said something about 14th or 15th of this month but that sprint had been delaying launches time and time again now. I just want to dump this crappy moto phone and get a real phone.
I like a good WM phone as much as anyone, and the iPhone 3g certainly got tons of coverage. But the iPhone 3g mostly has been covered for 4 reasons (really two): the new OS, the app store, Pandora Radio, and faulty 3g connectivity. If you think the iPhone coverage has been positive, I think you're mistaken. Apple and ATT have been crushed in the blogs, and for good reason.
There has been a fair amount of coverage and anticipation for the HTC Touch Pro, and I think the big news is that even if HTC works WM over for 3 years, they can't impress reviewers like Walt Mossberg. MS has a widespread scaling problem for its OSs that Apple has addressed successfully, in part by supporting only a half dozen hardware variants. If people lack a compelling reason to upgrade to Vista and keep going further into Linux based "UMPCs" and "netbooks," there are fewer reasons to get into WM. In general, the computer free smart phone with a fast cellular data network is here. People want to sync, but it's better to sync with everything than one OS. Apple hasn't done a perfect job here by any means either: why build a smart phone that doesn't need syncing and add on a cloud syncing service, and not think you might need an emergency firmware push on the device itself?
If HTC were thrilled with WM and the direction it's been taking, they wouldn't have hooked up with Google. It looks like MS will start to shift the direction of WM, but not until the next version...and we all know how WM updates usually go, especially for existing phones: slowly.
In any case, as soon as Android is out, we'll all be enjoying a flood of posts in which Android goes on one slightly different WM smartphone after another. And this HTC phone will be one of the first victims of the coming wave of Androidization, what with the capacitative touchscreen and sleek, metropolitan design.
The Fuze is exactly what I want. I currently have an AT&T (Cingular) 8525, purchased on the first day of availability. So, my 8525 is nearing the end of its 2 year contract and is already upgradeable. While I would like to have a smaller and less hefty device, I am not willing to compromise on function. I have become quite proficient using WM6 Pro, with multiple email accounts (IMAP, POP3, and webmail), multiple browsers, IM client, synced calendar and contacts, many 3rd party apps, MP3s, and converted DVD movies. And, of course, Slingbox! Wifi support has been invaluable. The Fuze will allow me to do all of this faster and with better video quality. AT&T has the best signal coverage in my home area, and even when I cannot get a 3G signal, everything still works well via Edge. The only problem I have had is that the 8525 does not always handle GSM frequencies correctly in other countries, and I am hoping that the Fuze has better international support. I will be upgrading to the Fuze as soon as AT&T makes it available.
I am in the exact same situation as you, and also bought the 8525 the first day available. I too will be upgrading to this phone the week it becomes available. It has all the functionality of the 8525 but now with a much improved interface and case.
Amen Chris just what we need. Enough of this one sided Apple cult. Give us a break. Half of you wouldn't know what 3G was before the iphone came out...
Copy Sandisk much?
Doesn't Sprint have an exclusive period for the Touch Pro?
I thought I heard something about sprint's limited exclusivity too - maybe it only applies to the CMDA version?
All i can say is i can't wait
Nope. Sorry. The Touch Pro still can't hide the sheer clunkiness of WinMo OS. It's been over a year and 1/2 since the Iphone was introduced and radically made phone companies re-think their strategies on "smartphones". A year and half later and still nothing in terms of having a user-friendly UI by ANY phone company. I've operated on the Touch Diamond. Once you use the half-assed touch flow intuitiveness to select an option...it's back the same dreaded Windows OS. If you're a windows user...I guess it's ok. But as a Nokia user and Omnia owner, I've been unimpressed. Sure there might be 3rd party apps which you can install by visiting xda developers...but the phone companies should really have something like an AppMart for their devices.
In my opinion, as long as phones keep using windows OS...there's only so much you can do to hide the sheer unfriendliness of windows.
And thats why Xperia X1 will fail. And so will Touch Pro.
In fact, the only phone I see competing with the apple is T-mob's android phone.
On top, AT&T's customer service...is well, I think maybe just above Sprint in how much it sucks! I've had issues with reception in my area...and must've spent close to 8 hours on hold today with customer service, not to mention having been disconnected on 2wice when I did get through.
It's gonna be either T-mob with it's Andriod phone, or Verizon (who've got some good phones and decent service) or Sprint with their phones and $99 everything plan.
you have some good points. WM6 is still a clunky beast that hasn't changed all that much for too long. hopefully WM7 will finally deliver a significant upgrade. the Touch Pro is a pretty safe bet to get the upgrade in 2009.
Really?
I find the Omnia easier to use than the iPhone and settled on the former.
You say po-tay-toe. I say poh-tah-toe.
I'm wondering where you got the TouchPro to evaluate and give your expert opinion? You can flame or champion any mobile device and/or OS out there, preferrably with no facts or experience- one fact remains: There is more attention now on mobile devices than any previous point in history.
iPhone is aimed squarely at consumers, WinMo has always been aimed at business. Both are trying to cross the divide, both have rocky records of crossing over. Throw Android into the mix and you still have the same situation. Blackberry is more of a threat to WinMo than Apple is, yet all the focus is on Apple. Yes, they sell alot of units, but mostly to the fickle consumer space- what makes anyone sure the iPhone is not a fad? It has all the marks of one.
I have a Tilt- older than the iPhone 3G- that can switch between GPRS, EDGE, 3G and HSDPA on the fly with no drops/delays. I have all day battery life- and if I didn't, I could quick-swap the battery. I have real security on my phone, I have secure access to actual push e-mail and built-in support for SMS/MMS. Which of these features do you think is unimportant to the business world?
There is no be-all mobile device- not WinMo, not iPhone, not Helios, not Android. If you're going to compare apples to oranges, write the full story, not just the bits that suit you. Or just stop comparing apples to oranges.
I want this phone...NOWW!!!! when EXACTLY is it coming out??
Yes!!! I was totally thinking about sprint for a min but I can stay with AT&T
Yay! And pay twice as much for slower 3G while the NSA wiretaps all your calls! Genius!
I hear ya. My employer decided to ditch perfectly working WinMo 5 PDAs (not phones) for the iPod Touch. Yes, the iPod Touch. They are morons.
As my contract is up next month, I will be getting one of these bad boys and getting back to WinMo.
is anyone else disappointed with the different look to the UI such as the closk in that pic compared to the GSM and Sprint versions?
I'm right with you there, but let's be honest, we'll all be flashing this thing with some cooked up ROM anyway, right?
bye bye iphone
hello fuuuzeeee
I choose to blatantly ignore everyone bashing WinMo simply because I've used it and it works just fine on capable devices (read: decent processors)!
Bring on the Touch Pro! Man, I can't wait to get a subsidized price on this beast.
And only one month left for me till I can get an upgrade! I wonder how much this will cost. If it's around 200, I'm totally getting it.
It gets tiring, no matter the hardware, no matter the software, if it's not an Apple product some small mob of fanboys will spew forth about how said item is just doomed because it is not an Apple product. In this case it is a phone, in fact a very very cool phone that is in fact capable of many many things that the Jesus phone is not able to do.
And yeah, sure, winmo is a bit clunky and was not built for finger use, to large extent because it was built a long time ago, and while it has been developing over those years, the Jesus phone was not really, well, even in existence...
So, you know, there are people out here in the wild who actually want more from their phone, or things that just don't exist on the iphone. I am one such person.
On my phone I can do an amazing amount of useful and cool stuff.
the one thing I like that the iphone has is an accelerometer, and this phone has now got one, so it would complete my feature wishlist....
Back to subject. the iphone is good looking and seductive, but it is limited. For instance, I have a drawing/photo editing app, it is one of the main things I dig on my phone, can't do that on the iphone... I can actualy make a movie on my phone, shoot the vidi, make the graphics, record the sound and edit it all together.
winmo + htc interface stuff and some more customization and I have a phone that is informative, capable, cool looking, productive and entertaining. iphone isn't there yet for me.
Point is, there is actual usable value in a winmo phone for many people that trumps the industrial/graphic beauty of the iphone.
I'll stick to the Sprint version, thanks anyway.
I just hope Sprint is in business long enough for you to enjoy it.
Especially since the 3G network of ATT has been a failure in a lot of markets, the Sprint version will be on a more reliable network, native turn by turn GPS/AGPS(with the ability to add TOM-TOM if you choose to do so) , OTA music downloads, and have more Ram!
Sandisk Sansa Fuze
this thing is coming to verizon right??
The only thing I hate about ATT is how secretive they are on release dates for new phones. A have a friend who works at an ATT store and the first time they learn a new model has been released is when they get their UPS shipment for the day and there it is.
I live in the Dallas area and ATT has the best coverage by far than any other carrier. And I want a Fuze! But can I get one next week....or in November? ATT frustrates me in that regard.
Other than that, I've had no problems with customer service, their coverage beats Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile in the DFW area, and I've been running 2 phones with a contract that expired a year ago so I'm constantly getting special offers begging me to re-sign. Wonder how much they'll make it worth my while for the Fuze......
One thing: there is an internal competition between the Company owned ATT phone stores and the on-line ATT website. Especially if you're in a situation like mine or a new customer, check with both of them to see who will give you the better deal. You don't get instant gratification over the web, but the money saved may make it worth the wait.
And I'm going to me nice and give my opinion of the iPhone, Apples's Marketing Stategy, and the lemming who buy the latest version every 4-6 months like it's the second coming. I've got a box full of old phones, but not full of phones less than a year old.
Actually- I work at Sprint and I can tell you that our coverage rocks in Texas (based on last months internal data). Plus the JD Power study on cell call quality puts Sprint in a tie for the number one spot in the southwest (which includes Texas). ATT is well below average.
http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2008142
But every area of town can be somewhat different. I would still recommend stopping by a Sprint store and trying out the Touch/Touch Pro when it comes out. You can at least check it out for 30 days and see how the phone + coverage goes.
Actually, what I meant to say in the last paragraph is "I'm going to be nice and NOT give my opinion of the iPhone, Apple's Marketing Strategy, and the lemming who buy the latest version every 4-6 months like it's the second coming. I've got a box full of old phones, but not full of phones less than a year old. Time to get some sleep.
" End Quotation.
I cant wait to get rid of my Isuck
Why, Oh why does ATT hire pimple-faced marketing folks from Motorola?
Fuze? Well, that's better than Fūz, I guess - though that may be taken by some teeny-bopper high-sugar "health" drink.
What's less inexcusable is that they have taken a stunning all black phone and put some stupid and crappy looking metallic bezel around the keyboard, which is also no-longer black (very politically incorrect, this year). So this very expensive executive phone looks like some cheap piece of bling.
11 months in and the chrome has come off the face of my Tilt. It looks cheap! The Touch Pro on ATT will look no better.
C'mon ATT, serve those of us who pay you several hundred dollars a month with multiple accounts and give us an all black Touch Pro that looks a little more - um - grown up!
Rita, how you doin'?
Eh, the best part of chromed plastic is when it rubs off. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten excited when the crappy chrome paint starts flaking off, because once it's all gone, BAM, in with an undercoat and acrylics.
If you do it right, you can get some pretty snazzy results.
Your post actually made me chuckle. Good show!
As for the aesthetics, I'm with you. I liked the Touch Pro from the first round of pictures, when it was all black (even though the green was a bit much). The keyboard layout on the Euro-spec GSM version was better, IMO. I liked the top row of number keys instead of the dual-use "telephone" layout we've been seeing around lately. Anyone else like the number row at the top?
Rogue,
Thanks for the compliments. I figure you can always drive a point a little deeper, if you sugar coat it first (I may have spent too long in the pharmaceutical industry, however).
Rita,
How's that Pilates thing working out?
Anyone else find the BlackBerry Connect feature odd?
umm... it isn't a BlackBerry
And is it just me or would this phone look unbelievable in a really really dark brushed aluminum body?
I figure that the BB connect is for corp clients already running the BB server. This way the Fuze can potentially take market share from BlackBerry with no push back from the IT guys. OK, well, maybe reduced pushback.
This is a very slick phone. I agree with a lot of posters on this site, the Windows Mobile interface is clunky. I am currently running on a Tmobile MDA (HTC Wizard), and despite it's age (about 3 years old), it's running a great slim WM 6.1 ROM, and truly is a Pocket PC. My wife has a 1st Generation iPhone, and while I prefer browsing the web on the iPhone, for all other tasks, I'll stick to my MDA. Yes it doesn't look as good as the iPhone, but it is much more flexible, the ability to truly multi-task among applications, and the ability to customize the device so that it works the way I want it to (and not the way Apple wants me to). The touch pro looks like a great candidate to replace my MDA, I can't wait to try it out (especially with all of it's 3G goodness).
Heh, you are the same as me man, I too am using an MDA, well, a Cingular 8125 to be exact( on T-Mobile though), and mine is running 6.1 aswell. I do agree that the Touch Pro is likely to be my next phone.
This is great news for people in areas with good AT&T service. I've been giving this device a lot of thought after the WSJ review. Just because Walt doesn't like Windows Mobile, doesn't mean it's bad. This phone is beautiful and FULL of functionality. The iPhone is fun and all, but sometimes I want to do things AWAY from my Mac. That's the sheer bliss of mobile computing I miss with the iPhone. My PPC-6700 was more or less my computer away from a computer, and now HTC has released that device with tons more power and sheer beauty than the PPC-6700. I just can't decide if I should be patient and wait for AT&T to roll out 3G in my area, or if I should jump ship and go back to Sprint. I miss having great coverage.
LOL..when did at&t all of a sudden beat sprint? Amazing what having the iphone will do for you.
Anyways i agree. Let's see some good coverage of the diamond and touch pro no matter the carrier. I'm sick of the iphone coverage and i own one. The app store? MS and palm have had em forever in handango, handmark, etc. They're all over the place. And you can put what you want on your palm or wm phone. While the apple app store makes it a bit easier, anything put in that store is at the mercy of apple. GPS isn't really a feature on the iphone. And 3g isn't a big deal as its standard on current smartphones..in fact, i'd argue that the 3g is crippled on the iphone compared to others and doesn't allow tethering either via BT.
The diamond and touch pro will have a superior browser, email, better apps, no bloated itunes, better screen, slide out kb (pro), etc, etc. Windows Mobile has always been better than the iphone's OS. But then again, so is palm's OS.
Can anyone give some advice to a Los Angeles resident who currently is out of contract with AT&T? I can pick Sprint or AT&T when I decide to make my HTC purchase (haven't decided on the diamond or touch pro), but I'm not sure which provider is best. I know that Los Angeles finally got 3G from AT&T, so that's a bonus. How is Sprint's high-speed coverage compared to AT&T? I read in a review on Phone Arena that the test model Touch Pro had terrible reception using AT&T. Maybe I'll wait to see how people in both camps react to their experiences with the phone(s) in the first few weeks. Thoughts?
Is at&t getting every new WinMo device?
Touch Pro
Xperia(rumored)
Omnia (rumored)
That leaves only the Diamond. And are they really gonna have the Xperia and Touch Pro compete on the same network? Doubtful.
Just a guess, but I'll bet that the Xperia goes to T-Mob for a substantial period of exclusivity...and the unlocked market (Sony Stores). I doubt we'll see it supported by ATT.
Just a guess.
I knew it!!! I knew it I knew it I knew it!!! I saw this about 3 day's ago when I was doing a search for "Fuze" on AT&T's website! I thought, "No, this can't be real" and every time I clicked on the page it would take me to the generic page that has a short description of all the smart phones on the business pages. I'm so psyched!!! This is what I've been waiting for, and it's almost here! I'm ready to do some UPGRAD'EN!!!
you have no idea how happy this makes me
It will be mine...oh yes...it will be mine!
I've got a demo Fuze and it works fine on 3G
I just received a stock update from mobile city online saying this phone will be avaliable unlocked on Sept. 19th!! I am assunong this is the gsm version!
I cant wait myself for the Touch Pro aka Fuze as well as the Samsung i907 and i910 Omnia to come to Att ive allways used standard phones then in 07 got a Blackjack and fell in love with windows mobile grannit I'm not much of a Microsoft fan as far as there 360 goes and i can live without vista but other than that Windows Mobile is the one thing that Microsoft puts out that i enjoy and ps if your a C-rapple sh-I-t PHONE fan please get the fu** outa this forum were here too talk about how awsome this phone is not hear your cheap[ shots at it using falsely gathered material for your sh-I-t PHONE
you know what im tired of going to posts on phones i wanna hear postivie comments on and all i see everytime it never fails is these dang wright winged sh-( I )-t Phone fans with there bias comments talking about there beloved CR-APPLE's phone im on this post to read what people think about this phone you know what i dont even care if you blast away this phone the touch pro aka Fuze but dont come in here sporting your sh-( I )-t Phone religion
I have the 8525 and got it when it first came out and have been waiting soooo long for a replacement. All I can say is, "FINALLY." AT&T, please tell us when we can at least pre-order it!!