T-Mobile getting HTC Rhodium as the Wing II, Sapphire as the G2?

T-Mobile USA has a pretty solid relationship with HTC, considering it sells the Shadow, the Wing, and the G1 at the moment -- and seeing how the G1's doing a nice little spot of business for them, it stand to reason that they'd be looking to continue the good times through '09. We're hearing from TmoNews that one HTC devices leaked today -- the Sapphire -- is the G2, while another source is telling us that the Rhodium is the Wing II, giving T-Mob solid, high-end Windows Mobile and Android devices alike in the new year. The original Wing is older than your grandmother (bless her heart), and as for the G1... well, let's be honest, these guys can take as much Android gear as HTC will give 'em right now. Bring it, fellas.

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

[Josh @ Jan 12th 2009 5:05PM]

The G1 has a keyboard. I don't think the would lose that feature, considering Android doesn't have a very good touch screen keyboard.

[JimDog @ Jan 12th 2009 5:11PM]

Several apps on the G1 already provide a VK. A system wide VK is rumored to be in the next software update (or soon thereafter).

[chezzo @ Jan 12th 2009 5:11PM]

how do you figure it doesn't have one?
look at the side view compared to the g1 http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/common/img/products/phones/t-mobile/t-mobile_g1_white_main.gif
pretty similar looking

i like the look of it if it is the g2... bit less clunky, 90s looking

i'm going to have a tough choice between the pre and this!

[TareX @ Jan 12th 2009 6:32PM]

Same thought...

So the G2 will be a touchscreen only found, but AS THICK AS A QWERTY PHONE???

That seriously blows...

[Bob @ Jan 12th 2009 7:15PM]

Mmmmmmm, G2.

[Mobius_1 @ Jan 12th 2009 7:25PM]

i can haz cupcakez?

[Levi @ Jan 12th 2009 7:39PM]

The on screen keyboard is in the cake update, or pie, or cherry frosting, or whatever they're calling it.

[Arkenklo @ Jan 12th 2009 5:06PM]

Do not respond to this post.

[yopladas @ Jan 12th 2009 5:06PM]

respond.

[KilgoreTrout @ Jan 12th 2009 6:08PM]

@ Eeiy
If really you are so demented to think that HTC, Samsung or LG would bother to copy an underpowered, useless, and outdated piece of crap like the iPhone, you deserve to be ripped off by Apple.
S. Jobs made its billions out of other morons like you.
Even for the loosers that can only afford a 99 bucks device there are available some phones that can be used as modems with a laptop or can send MMS, or pack a decent camera.
This Rhodium looks like my touch HD with the addition of a k-board, so for sure you will not be able to find it as cheap as an iPhone but the difference is that this rhodium (like other HTCs) will probably be worth its higher price, while the iPhone as cheap as it is it's still a rip off aimed at poor suckers like you.

[Mobius_1 @ Jan 12th 2009 7:26PM]

lol, that's like telling Steve Jobs to stop using "i".

[Levi @ Jan 12th 2009 7:40PM]

Is that iEye? Did he get banned, and now he's back with another annoying name?

If so, when will he learn? WHEN???

[yopladas @ Jan 12th 2009 5:06PM]

A G2 already? Isn't the G1 only a couple months old?

Damn... and I like the G2's look better than THAT.

[shugg @ Jan 12th 2009 5:55PM]

yeah but htc brings out a new model every 6 weeks in hopes of 1 day creating the iphonekiller.,so far theyve failed all 17 times.,so far they o for 17.keep trying.dee dee dee!!!!!!!!just like motocrapola .

[FRZ @ Jan 12th 2009 5:06PM]

that new wing II look nice.

[xnifex @ Jan 12th 2009 5:07PM]

I'll take any new PPC that Tmo will come out with. Been waiting since I bought the MDA. Right now I have an unlocked Tilt, but I'd love a 3G PPC thru Tmo.

[Kris120890 @ Jan 12th 2009 5:08PM]

I would have thought the pink one from earlier was the G2.

[shugg @ Jan 12th 2009 6:06PM]

STFU.,oh yeah ,the pink one would go really well with your yellow teeth.,what a dee dee deee!!!

[Kris120890 @ Jan 12th 2009 6:17PM]

Get a Life Joel you Moron. Funny how no one replies to you and low ranks you straight away. Happens to all trolls you, arkenlo, Eeiy, clak and iEye. Go away MORON.

[Boarderwoot @ Jan 12th 2009 5:11PM]

Anonymous tipster needs to learn how to use something else besides paint. Why even add color if it looks that shitty?

[E. Leigh @ Jan 12th 2009 5:14PM]

Exactly what I thought.

I always go for the burn-your-eyes-out-of-your-head neon green color while putting borders around my insider pictures.

[Maikel @ Jan 12th 2009 5:12PM]

Nice!!!!!!!!!! the G2 with no slide-out keyboard.

[Abuzar Baloach @ Jan 12th 2009 5:21PM]

If the G2 brings minimal improvements in specs then I'll take the G1! I love how the G1 looks, as weird as that may sound, and the G2 looks ugly IMHO.

[Tyler Spilker @ Jan 12th 2009 5:26PM]

So I have reached a dilemma. Should I wait til the mobile world congress to see if the G2 pops up for sale from T-Mobile, or should I just go ahead and buy the G1.

I know the G1 isn't without problems, but I fraking love Android, and the G1 is just a fun little phone I think

I just know the moment I pick the sucker up, something newer and better is going to popup (like every time I buy an Apple product)

What does the Engadget community think?

[Burt Reynolds @ Jan 12th 2009 5:30PM]

And they STILL don't understand the importance of a 3.5mm jack...

[Nick @ Jan 12th 2009 5:29PM]

Looks like my G1 will be going up on eBay before the mobile world congress...

[jordan :) @ Jan 12th 2009 5:47PM]

wow, take away the slide out keyboard and keep the chin!?
shouldnt this be the other way round...

[rex2745 @ Jan 12th 2009 5:33PM]

wow the wing II looks awesome also the g2 does too. it looks like the wing is getting a bigger update than the g2 i mite be buying both devices if the wing is good enough but im definitely buying the g2 i guess im going to sell my g1 for $200 atleast when the g2 comes out and the wing. I'm guessing they're coming out around November'09 or an early 2010 release since we only got pictures which could be fake also and no specs

[EGOvoruhk @ Jan 12th 2009 5:33PM]

Still no damn headphone jack on the G2? Tisk tisk HTC

[gs191 @ Jan 12th 2009 6:06PM]

Well this is pretty nice. I was about ready to jump the gun and migrate over to the new BB they're getting in Feb or the G1 when I qualify for full discount in June. I hope that T-Mo also gets the Tungsten, Sapphire, and hopefully the Maple as the "True" Dash 2. I hope they announce these at CTIA and bundle them with at least WinMo 6.5 + TouchFlo 3D.

Anyway you slice it, I'm just glad that HTC is still giving WM some love.

[keland444 @ Jan 12th 2009 5:55PM]

what about prices this should be a very interesting year now if only they come with wireless charging adapters and battery that last for a few days rather then 24 hours. wvga resolution? pretty please

[KilgoreTrout @ Jan 12th 2009 6:21PM]

HTC doesn't need an iPhone killer: the iPhones kill themselves in shame every time they meet my touch HD or Samsung Omnia.
Of course they are not so cheap as the iPhone but they are worth their price, the iPhone even if soon will be found in MacMeals will always be just cheap shit.

[Shugg @ Jan 12th 2009 10:50PM]

Htc doesn't need an iphonekiller ,LOL . I'm sure htc CEO would want u shot for saying that.,not only r u idiot but have illogical thinking. I'm not sure if u trying to be different ,cuz maybe u don't fit in or if u just a lost cause. This says alot about your decision making , very poor. Touch hd overpriced piece of junk ,laggy weak,has no balls. Samsung omnia,? Oh yeah maker of the glide. Disposable trinket at best.,let me guess your one of those losers that carries samsung in one pocket n iPod in the other. Tell me how that remote control dock working , oh wait no 3rd party support. No company wil ever make one for junkcells , i guess youll have to stick with year 1995 3.5 mm technology.That says it all ,what a loser.,n all that just cuz u an outcast your whole life.what a dee dee deee!!!!

[KilgoreTrout @ Jan 13th 2009 7:43AM]

@ Shugg
It's so funny how you demonstrate to anyone who has enough time to loose to read your meaningless mumble, how not only you don't know what you talk about, but you don't even know how to talk about it.
I don't have the time to point out to you every single BS in your post,( ask your psychiatrist to do that), but I just want to tell you something that you obviously are too ignorant or just too plain stupid to know:
One of the main reasons why discerning people buy sophisticated devices like the touch HD or the Omnia, instead of cheap crap like the iPhone is just that so they don't have to carry multiple devices like the poor suckers who have been duped by Apple must do.
Why would I want to carry a piece of shit like an iPod when I already have an Omnia in my pocket with its 32 (thirtytwo) GB of memory (16 in the phone+16 SD) ? it plays ANY format you like , and if you find some exotic format that is not supported out of the box, both the Omnia or the touch HD, run win. mobile, and that mean that you can download FOR FREE any sort of app, game, player etc you can imagine.
The best sounding players for music, and the best looking players for videos can be installed on win mobile, why would anyone want to carry a PMP when it's got the best possible with his phone?
The 5 MPX camera and videocams with flash , autofocus, Macro, and a lot of other tricks make useless also to carry a camera or a videocam (unless you're a pro) but the vid I take with the Omnia are just as good as those I used to take with my Flip Mino, so much so that I sold the Flip and never regretted it.
I don't need to carry a mobile modem either because my phones are excellent BT broadband modems for my netbook or laptop (Notice that I talk about the Omnia here because you can't even hope to understand a top notch device like the HD).
I could go on like this for a long time but I know it's usless to point out the evidence to little brainless jerks like you; keep on thinking that the makers of Ferrari are jealous of Mazda because it sells more cars then them: S. Jobs will thank you, keep telling you you're right and keep taking your money in change of outdated cheap shit.
And you know what? He's right to do that; you deserve nothing else.

[Christian Walters @ Jan 12th 2009 6:28PM]

Sweet Jesus I hope that that is indeed the Wing 2. I had heard that it was going to be sorta Touch HD styled with a keyboard, but man alive would I think about staying with TMoe if this actually pans out!

[xconan @ Jan 12th 2009 6:31PM]

shugg: I at least give credit to HTC because they try to bring out differently styled devices that are appealing enough where it's bound to fit someone's taste compared to apple's one size fits all approach like where everyone in the neighborhood drives the similar make and model that the style/look becomes bland.

[Shugg @ Jan 12th 2009 10:34PM]

Oh yeah ,that's y some drive accords,bmw, Benz.rovers N then we got u that wants to continue with low quality ,but at least u got your KIA hyundai yugos to make people like u happy,.

[Silverskull @ Jan 13th 2009 12:29AM]

Shugg, you seem to act as though the iPhone is the ultimate phone that can never be surpassed. All touchscreen smartphones are labeled as iPhone killers nowadays... but the Apple fanboys will continue to proudly announce the victory of the iPhone over the next new device without even touching it.

[TareX @ Jan 12th 2009 6:36PM]

If this is the G2 then Palm Pre won that battle for me. Damn you HTC.

Next showdown, Pre vs Tegra....

[snworf @ Jan 12th 2009 6:46PM]

The 'leak' mentioned, if it is to be believed, uses 2 abbreviations for their upcoming T-Mobile devices, TMO & TMUS, which would seem to indicate the TMO are handsets showing up outside the US. There is only one with the TMUS label, not pictured in your post here, it's the one called the Tungsten, captioned with 'TMO, TMUS'.

[Ike Turner @ Jan 12th 2009 7:06PM]

...and probably runs WinMo. There's only one of the 25 phones labeled as running Android.. the pink one (Hero)

[Phoenix @ Jan 13th 2009 11:46AM]

TMO = T-Mobile UK and Germany, using the normal worldwide GSM bands.
TMUS = T-Mobile US, using it's quirky bands.

An 11 year old could have figured that out.

[TareX @ Jan 12th 2009 7:04PM]

Could all be bogus.... remember that Vodafone 2008 lineup (HP Oak, HP Silver....etc).... never happened.

[Levi @ Jan 12th 2009 7:44PM]

If they really give up the slide out keyboard in the next iteration of the G1 (guess that would be called the G2), they are just plain dumb.

[chefgon_ign @ Jan 12th 2009 7:49PM]

I can't believe they would release another Android phone with no headphone jack. Crazy.

[Random123 @ Jan 12th 2009 8:10PM]

The lime green background hurts my eyes.

[FILA @ Jan 12th 2009 9:14PM]

im really liking this android movement, and everytime im in a tmobile store cince thats who i have, i always play with the G1 and i like it, the pictures always make it look so much bigger then what it really is, but i think i would wait to the second gen comes out. thing i like the most is that you can scan a bar code and compare prices on it.

[Shugg @ Jan 12th 2009 10:32PM]

Sounds like u wanna work at walmart as a scanner , dee dee deee!!!

[Alex @ Jan 12th 2009 11:07PM]

...and the Dash?! Only the most popular T-Mobile phone until now.

BTW, still no headphone jack? What the hell is wrong with HTC?

[ddub @ Jan 12th 2009 11:47PM]

i will buy whatever company comes out with a nonbuttugly phone that has

real qwerty keyboard
Android or palm os or ipod os

damn tmobile. just give me the rhodium or the tungsten with android. Please