Semi-official no longer, Sprint has now officially announced the
HTC Hero for its network. Here's the skinny: it's coming October 11th and will be $179.99 after assorted rebates. Also noteworthy? It's the
chinless model we just spied just days ago, but otherwise it looks like the same internals, Exchange Active Sync, and Sense UI we've
been toying with for months now, plus
Sprint TV. Pre-registration (note: not pre-order) is now available for those eager to already claim stake. We can't help but notice there's no mention of exclusivity here, but regardless, well played, Sprint, between this and the
Pre, you're amassing quite a nice collection, there.
Update: We spoke to Sprint, and the Hero is in fact an exclusive for the company.
Read - Press release
Read - Hero pre-registration
posted Sep 3rd 2009 9:39AM
If this comes to AT&T, I'm in for one.
Sprint should have just stuck with the Magic moniker, there's nothing Heroic about that design at all
Clearly, parent post is an iphone fanboy.
http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/09/09/03/0258243/iPhone-Straining-ATampT-Network
and
http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/07/05/128213
AT&T stinks. Sprint and Verizon rock your socks. Simple facts. Now that you are informed of the truth, go sulk and come up with a snappy reply for me.
Well, I don't have, nor have I ever had, an iPhone, so that pretty much negates your entire post...
Why the hell WOULDN'T you want to use AT&T? It's the easiest network to finagle to your best interests. GSM means you have the widest range of phones to work with; it also means you can pop your SIM card out and throw it into just about any other GSM device. AT&T's rollover minutes basically ensure you'll never go over your minutes. Up until about a year ago, AT&T had the best phones BY FAR (this has since been remedied to an extent by other carriers). Oh, and even in their stores, if you go to a Verizon store you'll be waiting 20-30 minutes to talk to someone. When I go into an AT&T store, I'm talking to someone within minutes.
Verizon might have a slightly better network in some areas, but as long as AT&T works well in your area (which it will for about 95% of Verizon's area of coverage), then you'd be stupid to go with anyone else. That is, unless you prefer an ugly red interface and tying yourself for an entire contract to one phone.
Jon you just got owned by hexydes!!! be careful who you choose to heckle.
Truth is Verizon gimps software, Sprint gimps hardware, between the 2 of them they must think leaving the original industrial design/ software is too "cutting edge' for us dumb Americans. Low rank me all you want!
and at$t gimps their network. so what is your point, you doofus? and how does sprint gimp hardware? it's more like verizon gimp hardware. get your facts straight. originator=imitator.
@hexydes
Att does NOT cover 95% of the area of Verizon or Sprint. Sprint's 3G network is 3 times the size of Att not to mention all the speed tests:
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/08/21/carrier-wars-t-mobile-results-wrap-up/
http://gizmodo.com/5111989/the-definitive-coast+to+coast-3g-data-test
Oh and the fact that Sprint is far cheaper- there is ZERO reason to go Att unless you need an iPhone or for some reason want to pay huge roaming fees over seas (vs. just using a world phone or disposable with a pay as you go SIM).
@originator
how does sprint gimp hardware again? the pre has the fastest processor this side of the pond (along with the 3gs, true), the htc devices have come over exactly as is and they are mandating that all feature phones (including the new instinct, which is not a smartphone) have wifi. vzw may rob phones of memory and processing power, but sprint has never done anything of the sort.
at&t gimps their network, but i also have a $10 mobile data card.
How does hexydes gets called a iphone fanboy just for saying he wants the phone on AT&T?
I am pretty much anti-Apple, but I also want the phone on AT&T.
As for why I am on AT&T? I have a cheap plan from a while back and also I need GSM phones which I can easily switch the SIM card when I go aboard and AT&T pretty much guarantees this is the case, while for Sprint/ Verizon you need to have a world phone to do so.
@cocoviper
He never said the 3g coverage is necessarily better than Sprint/Verizon, he just said general phone coverage is pretty similar and that it works well for most people, which is probably true.
@jake
If the calling area is about the same but Att's data network still sucks (from both 3G coverage and general throughput) and I have to pay more to use Att's network- again why should I want the Hero to be on Att vs. Sprint?
This actually may not be too far from the truth. I wrote an email today to HTC voicing my distaste for the chinless wonder and in the response they stated that:
"There may be other US based carriers that will carry the Hero in the future, and those carriers may decide to keep the original overseas design, but there are no official announcements as to other carriers picking up the Hero at this time." So it may not be just an exclusive Sprint phone. However, if like me, you aren't happy with the redesign, please email sprint and sign this petition http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/htchero
hexydes @
I hear you. You know how I know Sprint sucks? I went to Yosemite park and I got plenty cell signal with my
AT&T phone. My buddy with Sprint got out of service. That's when I know Sprint sucks! :)
Why the hell WOULDN'T you want to use AT&T? It's the easiest network to finagle to your best interests
OK please tell us what you can finagle out of ATT in your best interests as you state? My sister has ATT and though she gets raped on charges and poor service including very bitchy customer service,she has stayed with them because she had other friends she can do mobile to mobie with...Her plan is $59.99 plus another $20 for unlimited text of yes for nights and weekends starting at 9pm not 7pm like Sprint.Oh btw this is for stupid cheap flip phone but it is in red and she likes that fact. LOL YES she is stupid for paying that much for no smartphone and no other service ike umm internet or anything else oh btw until recently she was getting 450 minutes for her $75.99 plus tax foe the crappy little flip phone...PLEASE expain what you can finagle out of ATT as she has tried to get them to let her change because EVERYONE else offers better deals.She is stuck until her 2 years runs out....OH btw she has had this phone since March and she compained out problems with it and was told well talk to the manufacturer for the 1 year warranty.The manufacturer says the phone is over 1 year old...meaning the ATT kiosk in the mall sold her a returned phone as NEW and didnt even let her know about the $50 rebate(but of course it woudn't be valid as it turns out the phone had originally been activated for over a years time) Yeah ATT seems great for finagling it to work good for you i see. Hopefully i can convince her that with Sprint now offering mobile to mobile to ALL CELL phones on ALL NETWORKS with the $69.99 everything plan she can not ony pay less a month but have more service and an actual NEW PHONE.....HOPEFULLY as she fights over being sold a used phone from their ATT Represenative she can get out of her contract and to a better Company in Sprint.
I actually NOOOOO'd really dramatically when I saw this. I like the chin. Maybe I'll just get an iphone.
Could someone explain the following bit about data roaming?
...The Sprint Mobile Broadband Network (inclusive of data roaming) reaches more than 271 million people...
Is Sprint's roaming contract inclusive of Verizon coverage areas as well?
It depends on what region you are, but yes for the most part. There's no 3G roaming onto the VZW network though.
Yes. Data roaming (1x only) is free on the Verizon network. Calls on the Verizon network are also free but use your anytime minutes regardless of time or day.
I don't think roaming on nights and weekends counts against your anytime minutes....
I roam on Verizon/Altell all the time with my Pre, and I get blazing fast 3G EVDO.
sprint and vzw have never had evdo roaming agreements, though they do have 1x. alltel and sprint were evdo partners, but in the areas vzw took over that is no longer true. for comparison, vzws broadband network included 280m people. as one who carries phones from both carriers in a major metro evdo rev a area, i can attest that the bgr speed test was very legit and my sprint phones are much faster then their vzw counterparts
FIRST!!
First chinless android?
Crap!! You all bit me to it! Anyways. I'm gong to miss the chin. I might wait for another 'Droid device. I guess the European version proved to be "too liberal" for the conservative taste of the US market. Shame.
FAIL!!
+1 since I believe in giving the impaired a chance to shine.
YES!! WinMo, it was nice knowing you, but I'm kicking you to the curb!
If this comes to ATT or another really good Android comes to ATT I might be saying the same thing.
I really want to see the ATT's version of TouchPro2 compared to whatever good Android device they might get.
I'm kind of disappointed that it isn't the original hardware design. That looked so much more class in my opinion, chin and all. I have a feeling this is going to look cheap just like the HTC Magic does in person. I bought a palm pre a week after launch because it was just about the best phone I could find on the choice of carriers. T Mobile has horrid service in my area and 0 3G coverage so an android device was out of the question.
I seriously think I will be selling my pre and purchasing a Hero, even if it is at full price. That is how much I believe in android lol.
The HTC Magic looks absolutely beautiful in person, probably the most attractive phone ever made.
I still think the chin would get annoying more than anything.
I agree about the aesthetics. The unlocked Hero looks awesome, like it's from the year 3000. This thing looks like a KIRF version of the Magic; I wouldn't be surprised to see an "nTC" logo on something that looks like this.
I totally agree. The chin did it for me. This looks like crap
I loved the angles of the original hero. Nothing about this phone reminds me of the look of the hero. If HTC was worried about the chin, why could they just knock the chin of the first hero, and keep the edges? ANd what happened to the teflon coating and all that jazz?
While I preferred the original Hero look, thought it was really edgey looking, I can see why they are going with this model. Seems much more "business professional" than the original Hero. Too bad thye didn't brand this something else and also get the original Hero. I think that would be a big hit with the tween market.
"The unlocked Hero looks awesome, like it's from the year 3000."
The year 3000? It looked like a desk calculator from the year 1982.
Don't you know sprint must make every phone look worse, no matter how bad it looked originally?
And they probably round phones off even more because they are all sensitive males.
I'm glad they got rid of the chin. It means that they could put in a rocker-plate and rearrange the button configuration, which seems to make a lot more sense than it did on the chinned model. They sacrificed a cool, cutting-edge chin look for a better interaction design. I can't wait to see someone review them side-by-side and talk about how it is easier and faster to navigate the Sprint model.
Key thing to note in Sprint's press release is that they don't mention that the Hero is exclusive to them. If I recall correctly Sprint made a big deal about the Palm Pre being exclusive to Sprint. Hopefully the GSM Hero is on it's way too especially since the FCC already approved it.
why is that "key?" they can't afford to pay a premium to make everyphone exclusive. they've got a flagship premium phone now. nobody serious expects them to pay for exclusivity for a platform thats damn near open source and already released on another carrier.
The screen is a lil' over the top.
What are you talking about?
There can never be too much screen.
Sprint is coming back.
Holy crap, this looks a hundred times better than the original overly-angular version.
No it doesn't.
I prefer my Hero with the chin, looks a load better than this, looks like the magic. F for design, D for effort
No, no it doesn't.
Sorry, no it doesn't. The battleship gray smartphone era ended circa 2007. This makes possibly the most capable smartphone (on the most affordable network) look like the HTC Mogul.
No, but it looks a hundred times better than the gold trimmed version. Seriously good looking phone. I think I'm set on my Christmas present this year.
ahhh man.. i was hoping for model with chin, now this makes me not wanna buy it
I'm mad that this doesnt have the chin, so ill buy one that doesnt have a chin or buttons! Makes sense...
ACK! I've been waiting so long for the Hero, and now that it's chin-less? Totally disappointed.. Looks like I will be moving to Europe!
I know what you mean. The original design is gorgeous. I wanted it so bad!!! But this? This is just plain fugly. Way to go Sprint.
I don't know if my SERO plan is a true SERO plan. My plan has 500 anytime minutes, unlimited data + text for $20 a month. To make any changes to my phone line I have to go through my referee. I got my first phone last December, but my friend (one who's not working for Sprint, but has the same plan as I do) called in to Sprint and apparently they said the phone is available on SERO and to order he needed to get the Sprint employee to put in the request. He's still paying $200 for the phone though.
@fanboy you're on the sprint advantage club plan. it's not the old sero, which was available to unlimited customers based on employee referral. now, only 20 sprint advantage club slots are given to each sprint employee. with that said, you are allowed to upgrade your phone once a year at the subsidized rate. generally, all phones are available to advantage club members shortly after launch. the one exception being the pre, which was not available for two months. i would know, i had to wait :)
Yes! Love it!
I know this is really cliche, but is this going to work with SERO because if it doesn't, I'm going to be the ATTs newest customer.
"HTC Hero requires activation on a pricing plan offering unlimited data."
Does that mean it won't work? I'm on SERO too, and I really want this phone.
You need to drop that SERO and get'cho self a HERO
How many times are people going to repeat this "If it's not on SERO, I'm going to AT&T" nonsense? If you are so concerned about money that you want to stay on SERO at all costs, why would you go to AT&T and pay for more than Sprint's Everything plans while getting less services?
If it's for the iPhone, leave, shut up, and get it already. Enjoy paying hundreds more per year. Obviously, money was never much of an object in the first place.
I guess that means I'm dropping my SERO. Most people who are on SERO are tech savvy intelligent consumers, do they expect us to just use these shitty dumbphones?
The SERO accounts are being phased out. It was too good of a deal and Sprint is taking huge hits because of it. So, in order to upgrade your phone you have to upgrade your plan. The "Everything Plus Referral Plans" took place of SERO.
http://delivery.sprint.com/m/p/sprint/epc/epclanding.asp
I wouldn't give up on SERO just yet. The wording is different than that of the Pre which requires "a new two-year service agreement on an Everything Data plan or Business Essentials with Messaging and Data plan". This just says a "plan offering unlimited data". I'm not saying it is likely that SERO will work, but I don't think this is the nail in the coffin just yet.
the palm pre is finally allowed on the SERO plans from last week!
maybe this will come to us a bit later, im guessing maybe next feb/march time?
i still get the message that indicates i will need to change my plan when i select the Pre as my upgrade device.
Fanboy, how did you get the pre activated on Sero?
I don't know if my SERO plan is a true SERO plan. My plan has 500 anytime minutes, unlimited data + text for $20 a month. To make any changes to my phone line I have to go through my referee. I got my first phone last December, but my friend (one who's not working for Sprint, but has the same plan as I do) called in to Sprint and apparently they said the phone is available on SERO and to order he needed to get the Sprint employee to put in the request. He's still paying $200 for the phone though.
Maybe he's talking about the new referral plans.
I'd like this to be compatible with my SERO plan, but I'm not holding my breath. Luckily I don't care enough to own a top of the line smartphone.
You know, a week ago, when I was reviewing the Hero videos on the HTC website and drinking in all the wonderful features available on this phone, I found myself thinking, "Boy, I sure like all this cool stuff. But it would be super-duper if it came on a phone that looked exactly like everything else on the market, instead of a unique, risk-taking, teflon-coated device that would stand out from the rest of the industry and already has significant buzz in Europe and Asia."
Way to F another one up, Sprint.
It looks like theyre opting to go with cheap plastic body vs the original sexy metal body... I NOOOOO'd too lol... very very very very very disappointed... It's like xmas morning has arrived, and you got a wii instead of the 360 you asked for...
GSM hero has a plastic case, too. Not metal.
No chin? That chin looks bigger then Jay Leno's.
I want this phone. I played with the HTC magic/my touch on 3mobile and really liked all the features and android os. Is there any chance that Verizon will get the Hero since it is CDMA just like Sprint??
@daniel rooney
I'm guessing that there is no chance. I think that because it has been 'confirmed' from Verizon's internal computer that it will be getting a HTC android phone called the Desire. Could the Desire be a renamed Hero, yes. Will it be similar, defiantly.
Why would they change the hardware on a phone that got great reviews?
They didn't, internals are the same. Do you think people gave the Hero high reviews because of the chin? The chin serves no purpose and it gets in the way or right handers. If you think getting the microphone closer to your mouth does anything than you don't understand much about how microphones work. IMO, this phone looks great and I'll be getting it because it is ground breaking in what it can do, not in how it looks. Absolutely awesome phone Sprint and I hope it helps turn things around for you as you have the best phone lineup now.
The chin doesn't get in the way at all. Most people think that too until they get their hands on the device. My Hero is actually easier to hold/use than the Magic I had a couple months ago.
It's more than the chin, for crying out loud. It's the overall design. The Hero was unique and beautiful. As an iPhone user, it was the first smartphone that made me feel a pinch of envy.
That envy is gone and my smug sense of superiority has been restored.
Wow, so if your phone is that much of an extension of who you are, not only are you vain, but your chin must be HUGE!
I'm sad to see that amazing industrial design go :(
BUT I'm glad to see sprint took out the cheap ass gold trim:
http://newsreleases.sprint.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=220644&p=imageGalleryCategoryDetail&t=MI&MICategoryId=16507&
is it me? Even though i don't really care because I'm on T-mobile but, wasn't the chin the main pass up for many folks on Engagdet when the g1 came out and etc. I do agree this look cheaper than T-mobile regular magic / or others but it have more ram and sense ui i'm pretty sure there will be covers for the phone why complain?
In other news doesn't the stock 1.5 android not have support for cdma ? doesn't only donut provide this?
so my question is will donut be released before the end of this month :)
Oh look. It's an HTC Magic... but for the ghetto.
I'm not sure how I like the new design, but who's really going to buy the TP2 now? Especially for $350 and a 2 yr contract
exactly my thoughts. i was going to upgrade my Mogul to the TP2, but not now.
exactly,i was gonna get a TP2 also until my g/f got one...no can do
but as i understand it,the chin was to protest the trackball if u place it face down
I'm so torn. This or the Pre?
The Hero.
I went with the Pre already and have no regrets. I love the way this (Android) phone looks and hope it serves Sprint well. My concern is that it doesn't have Exchange Activesync (HTC says it does but Google says no) - at least not natively. That's rather important to me. A co-worker of mine has the G1 from T-Mobile and he's tried with various 3rd party EAS applications but none work.
Once Google writes something solid to make Android work with EAS, I may just jump over to Hero (or whatever's out at the time). Until then, it's me and Pre!
This thing is Fabu! Really surprised to see Multi-touch and the full Outlook integration. I wanted the Sholes for my native Verizon, but is this worth jumping to Sprint for?
F... this.. Nokia might announce this September, their switch to Android. If so, I would rather get a Nokia phone.
I prefer the original Jay Leno version.
I agree. They just lost my money.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POxMp61Ksbk
I Need a Hero from Short Circuit. I thought it was appropriate.
Thank you for that! That song always gets stuck in my head when the Hero is mentioned. :)
Before the onslaught of fan-boy rage attack me this is just my opinion and i speak for myself
i don't see what people like about android the OS looks cheap to me and poorly put together i guess this is what you get when its free
i prefer windows mobile device but that's just me.
Seek professional psychiatric help.
Android is actually a pretty well put together OS, it doesn't have the polish and flash that some OSes have. Sense UI addresses a lot of these issues masterfully (in my opinion) and I regret that my lowly G1 will never be able to run it, even if I *could* get the ROM onto the phone.
It's a pity they didn't stick with the original design, but that's Sprint for you, trying to make everything appeal to middle-aged women.
Also, the change in materials and layout may also be due to challenges in converting to CDMA, but I have no technical knowledge to base any real theory on.
Should have kept the chin, it looked much better.
I hope and pray that I will be able to rehouse this phone with the original European housing when it comes out
I really hope at least one of those unannounced phones goes to AT&T, maybe along the lines of those leaked slides back from May
It just looks like the Mytouch now from the outside.
Can anyone tell me whats the difference between the HTC Magic and Hero other than the exterior housing? This might as well be the CDMA HTC Magic