AT&T page confirms HTC Touch Pro as "Fuze"

Before a single AT&T-subscribing soul dreams of jumping ship for Sprint just to pick up the Touch Pro in a few weeks, hold up: we can pretty much confirm that it's coming to your neck of the woods, too. We've already seen some totally legit-looking shots of HTC's hottest QWERTY WinMo piece in AT&T trim, but now we have some more damning evidence in the form of a Google cached page detailing the so-called Fuze on the carrier's own site. As expected, we've got tri-band HSDPA, GPS, WiFi, and BlackBerry Connect waiting for us when AT&T finally decides to pull the plug on the Tilt and make this thing happen. Follow the break for AT&T's poetic Fuze verbiage -- and take your time, since there's no indication that we'll have this in stores in the next few days.

[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

[Mike @ Sep 5th 2008 10:30PM]

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.

[msied @ Sep 5th 2008 11:09PM]

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).

[jpw21683 @ Sep 6th 2008 12:15AM]

@msied: He's talking about the screen physically tilting...don't think you can install software to do that.

[gigabit @ Sep 6th 2008 12:23AM]

he's talking about tilting the actual screen on the keyboard. not just the g-sensor.

[Muhammed @ Sep 5th 2008 10:36PM]

The name somehow reminds me of "Vuze" the new Azureus Torrent client.

[erhan @ Sep 5th 2008 10:37PM]

ATT tsk tsk
ALWAYS putting stupid names on phones.

[Jeremy K. @ Sep 5th 2008 10:37PM]

Fuze reminds me of that terrible tasting drink. yuk

[Rob @ Sep 10th 2008 9:19PM]

So now all i need to know is when is it coming out.... AT&T, please make it soooooooooooooooon

[slamEVIL @ Sep 5th 2008 10:45PM]

they keep re-naming it to keep people from realizing that it sucks

[Tyler @ Sep 5th 2008 11:08PM]

This phone, suck???? Dude what are you on. What do you think is better?

[iEye @ Sep 6th 2008 12:17AM]

look at it, its software is nearly impossible to use!

[allislost @ Sep 6th 2008 2:08AM]

Why is your profile set to private? what are you afraid of?

:)

[Phoenix @ Sep 6th 2008 7:31AM]

Dozens of un-biased reviews (Ignoring the apple biased ones) have proven you wrong.

[alberto @ Sep 6th 2008 7:38AM]

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.

[erhan @ Sep 6th 2008 11:25AM]

@Stupid.
Its not the software that is impossible to use, its the dumbass user like you.
ever heard of an id10t error o_0 ?

[Christian Walters @ Sep 5th 2008 10:49PM]

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.

[Chris Ziegler @ Sep 5th 2008 10:52PM]

Why the Touch Pro, specifically? And also, what dire consequences do we face should your beliefs solidify?

[Hoodie Hoo! @ Sep 5th 2008 10:56PM]

@Chris

I think Christian might poop on your faces.

P.S. I like Touching pros

[Christian Walters @ Sep 5th 2008 11:02PM]

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.

[Firebird @ Sep 6th 2008 11:01AM]

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.

[jpw21683 @ Sep 6th 2008 12:16AM]

@Christian: Preach it, brotha!

[Josh @ Sep 6th 2008 12:44AM]

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.

[dennis @ Sep 6th 2008 8:39AM]

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.

[grmcgee @ Sep 5th 2008 10:55PM]

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.

[Steve A. @ Sep 6th 2008 12:40AM]

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.

[Zeke Neilan @ Sep 5th 2008 11:16PM]

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...

[Peter D. Lai @ Sep 5th 2008 11:16PM]

Copy Sandisk much?

[Dan @ Sep 5th 2008 11:20PM]

Doesn't Sprint have an exclusive period for the Touch Pro?

[Chris Poirier @ Sep 7th 2008 12:44AM]

I thought I heard something about sprint's limited exclusivity too - maybe it only applies to the CMDA version?

[dan @ Sep 5th 2008 11:30PM]

All i can say is i can't wait

[Abhishek @ Sep 5th 2008 11:25PM]

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.

[murph @ Sep 5th 2008 11:50PM]

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.

[Mark Anderson @ Sep 6th 2008 7:58AM]

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.

[Chris in CA @ Sep 8th 2008 11:52AM]

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.

[ashton @ Sep 7th 2008 1:04PM]

I want this phone...NOWW!!!! when EXACTLY is it coming out??

[Jason Woods @ Sep 5th 2008 11:53PM]

Yes!!! I was totally thinking about sprint for a min but I can stay with AT&T

[n3o @ Sep 6th 2008 8:26PM]

Yay! And pay twice as much for slower 3G while the NSA wiretaps all your calls! Genius!

[jpw21683 @ Sep 6th 2008 12:21AM]

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.

[element4life3 @ Sep 6th 2008 12:40AM]

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?

[Scott @ Sep 6th 2008 2:43AM]

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?

[penetrode @ Sep 6th 2008 12:56AM]

bye bye iphone

hello fuuuzeeee

[yokken @ Sep 6th 2008 12:56AM]

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.

[Fahad @ Sep 7th 2008 12:31AM]

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.

[Bayard @ Sep 6th 2008 12:57AM]

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.

[Achilles @ Sep 6th 2008 1:40AM]

I'll stick to the Sprint version, thanks anyway.

[Lawrence Waters @ Sep 6th 2008 4:07AM]

I just hope Sprint is in business long enough for you to enjoy it.

[awake @ Sep 6th 2008 11:04AM]

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!

[nxtiak @ Sep 6th 2008 2:34AM]

Sandisk Sansa Fuze

[Alex @ Sep 6th 2008 3:29AM]

this thing is coming to verizon right??

[Lawrence Waters @ Sep 6th 2008 4:21AM]

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.