HTC Touch Pro breaks free on Verizon

If it's just gotta be Windows Mobile then the HTC Touch Pro is about as good as it gets. After HTC jumped the gun yesterday, the Touch Pro is up and dancing the QWERTY slide on Verizon's website exactly as rumored. $419.99 minus that $70 mail-rebate makes it yours for $350 with two-year contract. Right, $50 more than with AT&T.

[Thanks, Leindurstit]

[Fusion Fuzo 05 - Mr Professional @ Nov 24th 2008 6:27AM]

NICE, windows mobile included

[digitallysick @ Nov 24th 2008 6:47AM]

Its a horrible phone i'm in process of returning my att fuze, windows mobile is terrible on this phone. Half the time its a touch phone (which you have to press hard, not like the iphone) then you sometimes use a stylus. It has lag, no matter what, even with the touch flow tweaks it lags to hell and back, trying to end a call, hit the home button, or any other buttons quicky and it might even dial people you dont want, i would say 4 second delay or more.

The screen is tiny, when trying to view a website its not responsive doesnt load well, when you try to touch on the screen to fill in text fields it can't seem to figure out that you are touching the screen, its just a horrible phone.

I would take an iphone anyday over this, and i currently have a nokia n95 thats far better than this phone

[Fusion Fuzo 05 - Mr Professional @ Nov 24th 2008 6:59AM]

@ digitallysick
i totally agree with you

[Fusion Fuzo 05 - Mr Professional @ Nov 24th 2008 7:03AM]

But windows mobile gives you the full freedom with applications, which make prefer it more, plus you dont have to pay for firmware updates and that's where the iToy fails to be a worthy phone.

Professional
Fusion Fuzo

[Borzu @ Nov 24th 2008 9:28AM]

"plus you dont have to pay for firmware updates and that's where the iToy fails to be a worthy phone."

lol

you FAIL for being a dumb-shit....

Yeah, that 2.2 update yesterday for the iphone sure was mighty expensive.

[jeesusfreek @ Nov 24th 2008 8:48AM]

@Borzu

No, DUMBASS, you fail for being a total fucktard. How much did you have to pay for Firmware 2.0? Oh, and 1.1.4 Software Update?

yeah, stfu.

[Rollins @ Nov 24th 2008 9:17AM]

jeesusfreek: I'm pretty sure iPhone owners didn't pay anything for those updates. iPod Touch owners, yes, but that's not the *phone* we're talking about.

Fucktard.

[ai4281 @ Nov 24th 2008 9:28AM]

I do not understand why people hate on Windows Mobile phones so much. It offers excellent Exchange and POP3 support, it offers endless possibilities of apps and modification, and it doesn't crash as often as the iPhone.
I own a Touch Diamond Telus and an iPod Touch, so I think I know what I am talking about. HTC did a good job with Touch Flo 3D, by making the fonts larger and optimized for touch screen.
The phone is laggy only when you are running 5+ background apps. You have to remember to close apps after you are done with them. I know that this sounds annoying, but at least Windows Mobile enables you to run apps background, unlike the iPhone.
Safari on my iPod used to crash all the time (before the 2.2 update), but my Touch Diamond never crashes on Opera browser. And I'm still on the original firmware they gave me (July 2008 version, I think).
Also, the thing with resistive touch is that you have to use your finger nails for sensitive control. It is meant to be used with your thumbnails. Conversely, if you try to use your nails on the iPhone, it won't register at all.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Windows Mobile fanboi. I love the iPhone's elegant and user friendly OS. I am a happy Mac user, after all. However, I just wish that people would stop bashing on Windows Mobile without objectively considering the phone.

[rita hainsworth @ Nov 24th 2008 9:42AM]

My Iphone has never "crashed"

[roach @ Nov 24th 2008 12:15PM]

@ai4281

Wow... your story mirrors mine, except I returned my itouch. I didn't like that I wasn't able to view my favourite sites because of Safari's lack of flash. I also didn't Apple's nazi program iTunes. I decided to buy HTC diamond and I love it! Winmo and XDA is a dream. I was jealous at all the apps the iPhone was getting, but I found some of the apps are also available on winmo, Engadget is just too anal to report it.

[Grant @ Nov 24th 2008 1:41PM]

@Roach

You're lucky you can return yours. Now that i ordered this it's kinda obnoxious that i will have 2 devices that can do practically the same shit. I got my 16gb itouch the day they were available, so i guess i shouldn't complain that i've gotten more than a years use out of it.

[SimbaDogg @ Nov 24th 2008 2:56PM]

all three of you guys are big dummies, anyways...

so whats the deal with not getting touch flo 3d AND paying 50 bucks more than the fuze? its not like it has a front facing cam or anything...seriously, whats the deal verizon. not that i'd ever switch from at&t to verizon (like my open handsets)...but that sucks for verizon customers. $50 aint bad i guess, and i guess you can always hit up xda forums.

[Patriks7 @ Nov 24th 2008 6:28AM]

"If it's just gotta be Windows Mobile then the HTC Touch Pro is about as good as it gets."
I would like to disagree.. My HTC Touch HD runs way faster than any Touch Pro I played around with and I think the X1 is better as well, just the price is waaaaaay over the top..

[AlDeezy @ Nov 24th 2008 7:44AM]

You lucky bastard. God bless.

[Leindurstit @ Nov 24th 2008 8:32AM]

Touch HD versus Touch Pro. They look pretty even on the basis of this video, but these are unlocked, unmolested devices after all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSaW7U5tDXU

[KilgoreTrout @ Nov 24th 2008 8:36AM]

If it's gotta be win mobile (or even if it is'nt) my Samsung Omnia is far better than anything HTC has ever made.
I dunno about he HD. But like digitallysik I returned my HTC touch pro after 2 weeks of frustration.
Now that I have an Omnia (and that I have installed MS voice command)I think that I found the erfect smartphone.

[broli @ Nov 24th 2008 7:04AM]

Why so expensive?

[John @ Nov 24th 2008 7:07AM]

Because they dont want it taking business away from the Storm, with which they have alot more invested.

[Corey O @ Nov 24th 2008 7:19AM]

We waited all this time for this price?

[Grant @ Nov 24th 2008 1:27PM]

i think that price is without a contract.
I just ordered mine and got it for $269.99 with a $70 MIR.

[Johan S @ Nov 24th 2008 7:25AM]

Someone figure out how to put Android on it!

[Leo @ Nov 24th 2008 7:31AM]

I just checked Verizon's site and they have already lowered the price to $309.99.

[sip @ Nov 24th 2008 9:31AM]

No... Still 350.

[sip @ Nov 24th 2008 9:35AM]

Sorry, I didn't see that you retracted your statement. I hope they decide to go with the lower price though.

[angus454 @ Nov 24th 2008 7:40AM]

god, what a disappointment Verizon is. first, they took the cool curvy look of the TP and changed that to this squared-off monstrosity. then they reduced the internal memory. Then they made it seriously overpriced. Verizon = sucks really, really hard.

[nick @ Nov 24th 2008 8:09AM]

When the iPhone came out I thought, wow that's a neat phone but I seriously doubted that mobile phone companies were going to let Apple just take the market like they had managed with the iPod. I might end up being wrong about that. Every good phone released is either priced much higher to the point only the diehards would ever buy it, or not priced low enough to make a difference. I thought the bold looked like a great phone till they announced the price. Why is it so hard to launch a decent mediaphone with some smartphone-esque apps for $99 on contract and a $50 a month plan? I wish someone like Apple/Google/MS would really try and compete with the actual phone networks, rather than just making devices to compete with each other.

[Crispin @ Nov 24th 2008 8:15AM]

@Nick, The Nokia 5800 is probably the closest anyone's come to a cheap(er) smartphone with media capabilities so far. S60 is still pretty powerful.

[Leo @ Nov 24th 2008 8:15AM]

And now the website shows $349.99 again. Seems like Verizon can't figure out how much they want to over-charge for this phone. If you want to get this phone, it may be best to wait for the prices to stabilize.

[stromm @ Nov 24th 2008 8:18AM]

Been out under Sprint for more than a month now.

[Brad @ Nov 24th 2008 8:56PM]

Right, where it has been cheaper and hasn't had it's memory / software neutered.

Verizon released a really terribly crippled version of a very beautiful device. Did the Verizon version even come with a business card scanner?

[MojoTosh @ Nov 24th 2008 8:36AM]

Anyone notice that the VZW page this links to says the device only has 128M of RAM? Wasn't this supposed to have about 64M more, while still having less than the Sprint version?

[chad @ Nov 24th 2008 9:49AM]

Just ordered it with my new every 2 upgrade. It was $269.99 with a $70 rebate on top of that.

[Robert @ Nov 24th 2008 9:35AM]

From the Verizon website:

This is yet another formidable addition to our Windows–based smartphone/PDA device line–up. The new HTC Touch Pro™ combines all the performance and functionality of Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional with the convenience of a slide–out QWERTY keyboard and a 5–way navigation key. Create and edit documents in Word and Excel®, view PowerPoint® files, filter your Inbox, and stay connected – securely – with your office via Wireless Sync or ActiveSync®. Take advantage of Wi–Fi connectivity, Bluetooth® Wireless Technology and its 3.2 MP camera w/flash and video capture. Use it as a tethered modem with BroadbandAccess Connect, find your way with VZ Navigatorsm and stay entertained with Windows Media Player. The Touch Pro is the ultimate no–nonsense mobile productivity tool for the busy professional.

SWEET! This phone does everything I will need my phone to do. The VZNavigator function added onto the phone is a fantastic addition. Also, I am finally going to be able to retire my HP iPaq since this phone will have the Windows Mobile function. The EVDO RevA capablilities will enable me to teather this phone into my computer and provide me with high speed Internet while I am on the road. Based on the functionality of the phone, I suppose I am going to have to bite the bullet and pay the price for it. Since I am a dealer, I wonder what our cost will be for it??? I will find out today!!!

[Brian @ Nov 24th 2008 12:10PM]

please tell me that enthusiasm is sarcasm
vzw raped this phone. they ruined the keyboard and took out so much of the insides

do not give in to their awfulness by buying it. i have the fuze which is great but this is crap

[Grant @ Nov 24th 2008 1:32PM]

you can use windows live search mobile for free(http://livesearchmobile.com/), granted VZW probably tried to lock everyone out of GPS access, but you can probably find away around it if you search online. it doesn't give voice prompts, but free is a shit load better than $10 a month.

[bit1 @ Nov 24th 2008 9:47AM]

any chance you will be able to get around that data plan somehow?

[Unique Gift Ideas @ Nov 24th 2008 9:53AM]

Get a job at Verizon.

[bill @ Nov 24th 2008 9:53AM]

no joke just said $269 on the site no back at 349

[Grant @ Nov 24th 2008 1:32PM]

you were probably logged into your account, then logged out.

[A-lo @ Nov 24th 2008 10:56AM]

Good thing we're in a recession because I'm not even tempted anymore to get this phone. Hopefully in a few months the price will come down. I do love Verizon, but I wish they would just give us what we want for once, and not downgrade their phones.

[PhilR8 @ Nov 24th 2008 11:51AM]

The Verizon product page says that this device only has 128MB of RAM. The Sprint/Alltel/Telus/Bell Touch Pro and the AT&T Fuze all have 288MB of RAM. Yes, that's correct - the Verizon version has 150MB less RAM than its competitors, if this product page is to be believed.

[Hendess @ Nov 24th 2008 2:47PM]

I'm wondering if Verizon's decision to cripple the processor speed still went through... Sprint's Touch Pro runs at 528 MHz, and Verizon's version was reportedly going to use the same 400 MHz processor (Qualcomm MSM7500) as the xv6800...

http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/05/more-details-on-htcs-touch-diamond-touch-pro-for-verizon-and/

...The flip side is, if this is indeed the same processor, does that mean that the video drivers can be ripped out and crammed into the xv6800/Titan?

[Steph-Chan @ Nov 24th 2008 11:55AM]

Anyone else notice that they reduced the max MicroSD to 16gb from 32gb, and the RAM dropped from 288mb to 128mb?

[chop @ Nov 24th 2008 12:15PM]

anyone notice the lack of TouchFlo 3D?

horray verizon knows just how to cripple every phone they put out!

[AJC @ Nov 24th 2008 12:20PM]

I think the reason this phone is so expensive is the same reason that the BOLD for att is aswell. My assumption is that Verizon gets raped everytime they sell a Storm, and so to help offset that, they charge a little more for their other handsets for a while. Cost for an 8Gb iPhone 3G is $674.00 and yet it sells for $199.00.

[Grant @ Nov 24th 2008 1:37PM]

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/07/15/iphone_3gs_final_build_price_just_174_33.html

Really?
Not to mention that whatever a phone sells for is minus the $200-300 subsidy bonus for getting you to sign on for an X year contract.
Besides the fact that apple got a good deal since they had the "killer phone" and requires a data plan, i'm sure they get an even bigger throw back for every iPhone sold. They're making money hand over fist on every iPhone sold, don't kid yourself.

[Bill @ Nov 24th 2008 12:23PM]

Verizon has the prediliction for disabling things on phones. I've read they lowered the memory, disabled the sensor that tells teh phone which way you're holding it, and one other thing. Do a search for 'verizon htc pro disable' and you will find many links...oh, it may have been gps they disabled...can't remember, read about it several months ago...

So you'll likely get a sandbagged phone, crippled by verizon, for more than you can at AT/T...I've been a Verizon customer for 9 years, but this may be time to jump.

[prophetmike69 @ Nov 24th 2008 12:30PM]

It definitely seems like they either disabled or removed TouchFLO 3D... it's mentioned nowhere at all on the Touch Pro page at the Verizon website.

Verizon == LAME

[Grant @ Nov 24th 2008 1:39PM]

"# VZ Navigatorsm Capable
# HTC Touch FLO 3D Navigation
# WorldCard Mobile – business card reader"

That's funny, i see it right there in the middle of their list on the right hand side.

[prophetmike69 @ Nov 24th 2008 1:53PM]

@ Grant -

Either I totally missed it or it was added after I checked the page, my bad. I still hold on to my 'Verizon == LAME' ideology... I used to be a Verizon subscriber and their service was horrible, they constantly billed me for incorrect amounts and customer service was unbearable.

Recently, their phone selection has been good... it's just the fact that they love to cripple their phones compared to Sprint (my current carrier), AT&T and others is just absolute lunacy.