HTC not bringing Touch HD to the States
By Darren Murph 
posted October 7th 2008 12:32PM
posted October 7th 2008 12:32PM
[Via WMExperts, thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Update: We've received official word from HTC that they've been really overwhelmed by the "strong" demand for the HD in the States and other markets where no launch has been planned (with that insane display, it seemed like a no-brainer to us!). Sadly, due to the engineering time required to get a North American 3G version in the pipeline, they say they're better off just waiting until the next round of products launches -- hopefully with some extra bands in the radio this time, eh?
Read - Touch HD not coming to the US
Read - Thanks for the concern
@Rom. Let's not get carried away!!
Sure I'm pissed at HTC, but that does not mean RIM with their primitive devices are any better!
Blackberrys are still "CRAP COATED CRAP WITH CRAP FILLING!"
Rom, learn to spell.
Frankie, have you ever used a modern Blackberry? You're a troll if you can't back up your comments with any well reasoned support. I'd like to hear why you think so, especially since Blackberrys are amongst the most capable and stable smart-phones on the market today.
I'm not a fanboy of any OS. I like to use them all. My SIM splits its time between a Blackberry Curve, iPhone, Treo (Palm), and Wing (WM6). Of the four OS's on those phones, others are more fun to use, or more flashy, but I always get more work done on the berry.
@MBN,
You sound like a Blackberry fanboy to me. Just so that I'm exonerated of any trollery, I handle round abuot 70 mobile devices for my organization. Unfortunately, my director let's the users choose whatever device they fancy. So I deal with, but not limited to: Treo's (Palm and Windows Based), HTC devices, iPhones, Blackberrys, and almost ever other WM device, both professional and standard.
Blackberry nightmares
Hmm.. Where is the email configuration icon.. oh shit I have to reboot my device and wait for that icon to be pushed out to me. I need a PIN!? What?
Email configurations are done on the cloud (if you're smart enough not to invest in a proprietary BES). "Oh let me configure this account... WAIT... Why is it connecting to the internet?.. Oh damn, I need a blackberry username.. shit how do I get one.. Let me call Sprint."
This trackball is hella annoying, and why does it take 3 minutes to reboot? etc. etc...
I'm no novice when it comes to mobile devices, so don't try me..
How much do you want to bet that the Google monster built into their agreement with HTC that they couldn't release any phones that would be direct competition for the G1? The agreement probably allowed in progress phones (Diamond/Touch Pro), but closed the window for new releases around the release of the G1.
I have a feeling the HD might be the first WM phone that could be talked about in the same breath as the iPhone & the G1, looks/usability wise. Of course functionality wise, I would take WM any day.
If the outcry is that big, I would think HTC would do anything to release to US. Consumer demand is expensive to buy, so if you have it with a product, why not fill the supply side?
somewhere there's an eagle shedding a tear... :-(
what about canada
noob question, cant i just import this thing and put my iphone 3g sim in there? will that work?
Lame.. they had a real iphone killer at hand... I myself wanted to get one instead of the hyped iphone.. but i think i have to settle down with iphone only (as I am stuck with comcast)... when will all these monopolies (not exactly ) end.. ufff..
Im really not that surprised. Which carrier really couldve fit this into there lineup this year. We all shouldve seen this coming.
1.AT&T has the iphone as there major top end fullscreen phone. There not gonna release a phone to truly compete esp with Xperia coming.
2.Verizon is banking on the BB Storm/Thunder to help them compete plus they have the voyager (lame) And they never get great phones early.
3.Sprint ( my carrier) already has 2 other HTC devices releasing this month who wouldve been cannibalized by this phone besides all of these are expensive highend phones.
4.Tmobile has already sold its SOUL to Google with Android no room for a WM phone when there preaching and open network
So that leaves nobody left in the US to carrier this LOVELY,SEXY PERFECT device. Id trade all these other phones in for this one.
Even with this making total sense...IT STILL SUCK ASS..I hate the American Cellphone industry
I am really not that surprised. Which carrier really couldve fit this into there lineup this year. We all shouldve seen this coming.
1.AT&T has the iphone as there major top end fullscreen phone. There not gonna release a phone to truly compete esp with Xperia coming.
2.Verizon is banking on the BB Storm/Thunder to help them compete plus they have the voyager (lame) And they never get great phones early.
3.Sprint ( my carrier) already has 2 other HTC devices releasing this month who wouldve been cannibalized by this phone besides all of these are expensive highend phones.
4.Tmobile has already sold its SOUL to Google with Android no room for a WM phone when there preaching and open network
So that leaves nobody left in the US to carrier this LOVELY,SEXY PERFECT device. Id trade all these other phones in for this one.
Even with this making total sense...IT STILL SUCK ASS..I hate the American Cellphone industry
Damn you engadget -1 for me.
3. Sprint ( my carrier) already has 2 other HTC devices releasing this month who wouldve been cannibalized by this phone besides all of these are expensive highend phones.
Dude Sprint have room for this phone. Just look at it. It looks like it was made just for Sprint. The very aesthetics are so Sprint. I always associate T-Mobile will colorful stuff like Side Kicks and Verizon with big box phones and now AT&T with Motorolas or um iFone.
oh well........
Yet another sad day for US...now it's Xperia or Omnia for me.....*sigh*......it can't be any worse can it? oh wait, it can....
Bring it to T-MOBILE USA 3G...we can't get the iPhone...so give us the iPhone killer!
T-MOBILE USA 3G
T-MOBILE USA 3G
**** PRETTY PLEASE ***
DUMB move HTC. DUMB.
I feel sorry for you guys in the US... Wait, I just moved to the US. -_-" Shit.
That's like getting kicked in the nuts. Why Why WHY?
At least getting kicked in the nuts is a quick transaction! This is like a long 3-week delayed kick in the nuts, we should have seen it coming and had enough time to move, but we just stood there! Three weeks later BAM!! right to the nutz!
Now I have to walk around with my G1 in my pants to deflect further attacks!!!
Really disappointed by the news. But even more disappointed with the explanation of why they did not plan to release this in the US: because they "didn't know" there were such a high demand for premium phone. How bailout of an excuse is that? But now that they have "acknowledged" and "recognized" this, I have faith they'll bring something better than the Touch HD to the US. I hope so, in some way, shape, or form.
Here's why I think they decided not to bring this to the US. Because non-US counties (i.e. Europe, Asia) tend to get plenty of premium high-end phone options, a phone like the Touch HD, would be just another option (understating this btw). But it doesn't mean it would not generate a very high demand for it; it definitely would and it already has. But again a high end phone like this, being made available to other countries, is not new. Consumers there are already accustomed to having plenty of high end phone options available; more so than the US.
So if a phone, like that of the Touch HD were to land in the US, you can bet it would generate alot of interest. Why? One reason is because the consumers here in the US don't get the luxury of having plenty of high end phones made available to them (other than importing it). That's not to say that we don't get these phones, but we just don't have as many options as the other countries. So a high end phone like the Touch HD (especially when being compared to the iphone) could cause SOME "disruption" in the phone market in the US. I think HTC recognized this potential and decided not to release this in the US because of its ALREADY focused efforts with the G1. Not to mention there is already a heavy stake investment with Google (with Android, OHA) and T-Mobile (3G kick off/roll-out in US). In some ways you can bet if the Touch HD was expected to be released in the US, it would have in some way interfered with the INITIAL demand/sales of the G1. The executives and stakeholders would have not been happy with that.
At the same, you have to also remember they just recently released the HTC Diamond and HTC Touch Pro (under Sprint). So any news of the Touch HD coming, would obviously thwart those sales. Those that were in the market for the Diamond or Pro, were already saying "goodbye" to those options and "hello" to the Touch HD.
So for HTC, to say that Touch HD will not be available in the US, helped its partners (TMobile, Google, Sprint) by alleviating their headaches of any disruption; that would have interfered with the sales of the G1, with Android, 3G roll-out, and the Diamond and Pro sales.
I personally think, the Touch HD (in some way, shape, or form) will make its appearance in the US some time next year. I think HTC had to end this speculation/expectation of the Touch HD arriving, to help heavily vested partners and stakeholders for now.
I would like to say that I feel sorry all you American's, but I feel far too smug thinking that I'll have my HD before Christmas. Sorry, but I'm quite happy!
Let me guess, our market is too mature? :-/
Ah shit.
this is the worst news I've heard all day... I can't believe HTC. WTF? so now I have to settle for a stripped doen touch Pro because my company works with Verizon? Christ... what a tease.
This is a shame, I'd really like to get this phone.
In the mean time - how much outcry does it take for HTC to fix the f'n BT and battery/radio issue with the HTC Diamond?
Damn you HTC. Damn you to HELL!
This has to be the worst business decision from HTC yet! Why hoist the fat-assed Touch pro or small screened Diamond on us when you already have what we want? Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy???
x2 on it arriving in the US at a later date. definitely can't have such a marvelous phone squander your other products.
how legit is the HTC tweet? it's got to be a marketing ploy to buy them time to fully develop the HD for our networks.
BOYCOTT ALL HTC products
I just received this email from HTC yesterday...
"From: James K
Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2008 11:30:49 -0500
Subject: Re: Contact Us Notice
To: zole2112
We thank you for your enthusiasm in our products and are more than happy to answer any questions pertaining to our phones. The HTC HD is expected to be released in the European market by the end of this year. We expect to have this phone out in the North American market shortly after. We have not set a price nor do we have any information on which carriers will host this phone."
I'll take the next gen...
Are you for real or bullshitting me? That email, although still somewhat discouraging, directly contradicts the news.
Real or fake, I do expect some iteration of the HD to come to N.A. in late Q1 2009 once HTC's sold all the Diamonds and Pros they are ever going to sell.
I honestly expected this one. The best devices cell phone manufacturers can offer are always kept for their core markets, Nokia, Samsung, SE, LG, as well as HTC are all doing this. It's fine though, I'm happy with what I have now, we just have to wait for the US wireless networks to mature as much as our Asian and European counterparts.
This is where Apple wins (I anyway don't own any iphone to tell this).. they know how to capitalise the market by creating a hype about their product and indeed deliver some slick gadgets, even when they don't have the basic "copy paste" (they convince the carrier and people.. don't they?!).
HTC would be one dumb ass company not to capitalise on a gadget like HD, and bend the carriers to their need (if so required, if thats the reason)..
I would strongly suggest HTC to sell off their R&D to Nokia, SE or even Motorola (remember the reign of RAZR!!).. they are dying to get a product like this and they will work their ass out to market such products to reach wider regions.. Poor HTC.. you still have to confine yourself to Taiwan and never come out... SAD !!!
Well damn, doesn't that just suck.
I swear, I'm never going to wind up buying a new phone. Everytime I see something I might like enough to get rid of my bb pearl I find something wrong with it (no stereo bluetooth has been the main offender- wtf google and apple). I thought this device might be the one that did it, but now they aren't sending it to the US... damn.
I don't know what on earth they are thinking- this device looks like exactly what US markets would want...all they needed to do to see that was check instinct and iphone sales numbers...
I want this phone!!! I waited past the iPhone because I knew someone was going to deliver the goods without giving it to me up the rear like Apple and AT&T. I saw this phone, I saw Android, I let them meet. They took a liking to one another and I planned an arranged marriage for the two of them and now HTC cuts and runs on me. SOB!
HTC F-u-c-k you
thank you the undersigned
HaHa! Take this, Engadget! That's what you deserve for making all your contests available anly for US readers!!
HTC thinks:
"Now you Americans finally feel how it is when product doesn't come to your country!"
Thought seconded