Best Buy's unlocked HTC Touch Diamond is confirmed 3G

You know that unlocked HTC Touch Diamond advertised at Best Buy? Well, we just received word from the inside that it does, indeed, carry US 3G. At least that's the obvious assumption given the HTCTOUCHDIA model and IAMOND UNLKD 3G description shown in Best Buy's all too familiar RSS feed. $700, and "coming soon" -- you ready?

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

[ficklepickles @ Sep 9th 2008 11:50AM]

wow

[OneLove @ Sep 9th 2008 1:01PM]

Yeah, Just because best buy says so?

[FreddieMerc @ Sep 10th 2008 8:15AM]

$700?? Whoa thats a lot

[omoks @ Sep 9th 2008 11:54AM]

~$700 for an unlocked device with no memory expansion. If that's not a rip-off then I don't know what is.

[Game ON @ Sep 9th 2008 12:47PM]

Rip off?


Mac Book AIR!!!

[OneLove @ Sep 9th 2008 1:08PM]

Why are you guys surprised at the $700 price tag? Its the new hotness, unlocked and being sold at best buy. (no rebates bitch)

Its the same as a phone starting at $650, but is locked, after rebates and 2 year slavery commitment it ends up being $250.

[SimbaDogg @ Sep 9th 2008 1:15PM]

eh, i think i'd rather buy the phone w/ a contract for around 250. (as long as its w/ a gsm carrier) ...keep it for a few months then if i feel like jumping ship, hit the ETF for maybe 200-250 bucks at the most. On top of that, pay to get it unlocked...about $40 bucks the last time i got my phone. Still save a couple hundred.

[zerostar @ Sep 9th 2008 1:51PM]

$1000/year phone with no memory expansion is even more of a ripoff.

Yeah, I'm talking about the iPhone.

[chefgon_ign @ Sep 9th 2008 11:54AM]

I am so confused about the different technologies on different wireless carriers. If I were to walk in to Best Buy and purchase this phone, which of the big four carriers would be able to provide service to it?

[omoks @ Sep 9th 2008 11:55AM]

Only ATT if you need the 3G part and also T-Mob without the 3G part

[bob sakamano @ Sep 9th 2008 11:59AM]

t mobile, att

[devGOD @ Sep 9th 2008 11:56AM]

700$ what are they smoking

[bob sakamano @ Sep 9th 2008 11:59AM]

probably really good stuff if they sell any of these

[kjb434 @ Sep 9th 2008 12:16PM]

Actually nothing. A lot of phones with these capabilities regularly cost around $700-1000. These phone are essentially UMPCs crammed into a handheld unit. And the precious iPhone is no different. Just thank your carrier for lowering your introduction costs.

[Chuck @ Sep 9th 2008 12:22PM]

They may be smoking the good stuff, but I bet they stayed at a holiday inn express last night.

Hey, ticketmaster wants in on stubhub like sales. People think Apple's missing the boat by not capitalizing on unlocked iphones going for $700 around the world. What bestbuy is doing is cutting out the middleman's middleman by offering a device for an ebay-like price *with* warranty. Seems pretty smart to me.

[SchmuckyTheCat @ Sep 9th 2008 12:22PM]

3G, as in T-Mobile 1700 band?

[David @ Sep 9th 2008 12:00PM]

I really like this phone but not for $700. I hope there is a carrier subsidized version in the works.

[venk @ Sep 9th 2008 12:00PM]

You can use it on AT&T and T-Mobile. Sprint and WZV are out although if you wanted to use it on Sprint you can just buy it through them for much cheaper (with contract) in a couple of weeks.

[coffee @ Sep 9th 2008 12:00PM]

This is without contracts right? If so I think it's normal price.

[pozzitron @ Sep 9th 2008 12:02PM]

One word ........iPhone.

[Mike @ Sep 9th 2008 12:20PM]

Two words.. Google Android.

[targe @ Sep 9th 2008 12:23PM]

Errr.......comparing an iphone to this??????
hahahaha..
hehehehehe.....
hohohohohohoh....

Fail!

[burriot_avatar @ Sep 9th 2008 12:33PM]

Three words: Blue Microsoft Zune

[dark star @ Sep 9th 2008 12:47PM]

8 words: shut the hell up! x2

[burriot_avatar @ Sep 9th 2008 12:50PM]

"x2" doesn't count as 4 words

[Ken @ Sep 9th 2008 12:07PM]

RSS = Retek Store Systems

And I am waiting for the post where they leave the store number visible so corporate can have 'words' with the employee if they can track them out (as in, YOUR FIRED!)

[Sisyphus @ Sep 9th 2008 12:09PM]

Best buy mini-rant:

I rolled up to my local Shady Grove Best Buy a couple months ago to look for a new phone, only to find that they had the genius to replace all of their floor demos with cheap plastic props (they don't even resemble the real weight/ texture of the device). The sales rep was pretty clueless, and acted like finding a phone for me to play with was a monumental burden (he was acting like Paul Rudd picking up silverware).

Best Buy Mobile is a total joke. They are pushing hard to expand their mobile segment, but can't even pony up to offer customers the ability to minimally test-drive a phone they might be interested in. I don't know about you all, but I'd never buy a phone from a place that didn't let me even see the model until they've swiped my plastic and signed me up with an agreement.

That said, they just deployed the iPhone 3g, and they have 1 demo unit out on the floor. In the words of Adam Sandler, whoopity-doo.

Long story short: If you're looking to play with the HTC Diamond, be wary of Best Buy.

[kjb434 @ Sep 9th 2008 12:17PM]

Know much of clientele at Best Buys, why would you want to buy a mobile phone of this caliber there?

[Sisyphus @ Sep 9th 2008 12:23PM]

I never said I planned on buying a phone from best buy, only that I wanted to look at them. At the time I was deciding between a Centro and a Moto Q9c for my Sprint SERO plan, and Best Buy was closer than the local Sprint store (also, the less I have to deal with Sprint employees, the better).

I think what you just said reinforces my point though, which is: If I am going to actually buy a phone from them (especially one at this price and with its lauded features), why the hell would I get it after only being able to play with a plastic prop?

[Brian @ Sep 9th 2008 12:34PM]

i do work at BBYM at trust me at the good stores for any customer with questions we pretty much always busted out a brand new one popped the battery in and let them try it out
it is dumb that we dont have all the phones working but the reason is we have 3 carriers plus unlocked plus pre paid. people like to steal and thats a lot of phones to watch for
and we have some of the more popular ones ready to demo at all times

just depends what associate you get just like any store you go to

[Sisyphus @ Sep 9th 2008 12:52PM]

Brian,

Thanks for the reply -- I hope you didn't construe my frustration with Best Buy as a frustration with all of its employees on the floor (I actually worked in the best buy digital imaging section way back when I was in high school).

I understand from a management perspective that not by not having the phones on the floor you don't have watch out for them, and maybe that strategy gets people talking to the service reps, but from an employee/ customer perspective, it places more work on everyone just to be able to demonstrate the product.

When I go in to browse, I don't want to have to ask an employee to take every item out of the box I might be interested in, and I'm sure from a retail perspective, you don't want to have to accommodate every request (even if you're a nice guy). Not to mention at peak hours, it would be pretty hard to do this, and you end up with customers that just won't ask because its a hassle, or who won't be attended to in time.

There are ways to secure equipment properly, so I don't buy that -- its really just a cost savings measure by the higher ups.

[Hush @ Sep 9th 2008 12:56PM]

There's a lot of stealing going on at Best Buy...

[James @ Sep 9th 2008 2:19PM]

Yes, employee theft.

[Darth Lord @ Sep 9th 2008 12:39PM]

I will wait for the WinMobile 7, carrier subsidized version

[Made@Dark @ Sep 9th 2008 12:41PM]

It's on Best Buy's web site... http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8986617&type=product&id=1218005636408

[zole2112 @ Sep 9th 2008 2:25PM]

No mention of 3G on the Best Buy website...

[blitzkrieg999 @ Sep 9th 2008 1:59PM]

I've seen several people ask about T-Mobile, and the answer is 'Yes it'll work, no you won't have 3G'. T-mobile uses the 1700mhz and 2100mhz 3G bands, which the Touch Diamond does not support the 1700mhz band. So if you get one, you're stuck with EDGE data.

[Blazeitup123 @ Sep 9th 2008 2:33PM]

i can't wait for someone to dump this radio so i can toss it on my diamond p3700. Hopefully ill get NA 3g! if that doesn't work, xda-devs will get it working!

[Chuong @ Sep 9th 2008 3:53PM]

of course there is memory expansion. its a windown mobile phone, it has built in 4gb of internal storage and a slot for a micro sd card which accepts up to 16 or 32gb depending on the brand.

its the touch pro that doesn't have 4gb internal storage but even that thing has a micro sd slot

[Lisa @ Sep 14th 2008 12:30PM]

Here's a review of the US 3G model: http://www.mobiletechreview.com/phones/US-3G-HTC-Touch-Diamond.htm .

[(.)(.) @ Sep 16th 2008 12:55PM]

$700? that is more than a laptop. Dang

[David @ Nov 14th 2008 2:13PM]

You can find it for cheaper now at buy.com for only $540 or maybe cheaper on ebay if you can find it. I already bought myself a case for this cell phone at http://www.dirselect.com but then I figured out it won't work with t-mobile 3g. Good thing I didn't buy the phone before I knew this. Why does Europe get a lot of good phones before the US like the HTC Touch HD. That phone looks crazy!