HTC HD2 officially coming to US, out in Europe and Asia today!
By Vladislav Savov 
posted Nov 4th 2009 6:02AM
posted Nov 4th 2009 6:02AM
HTC HD2 SHIPS IN EUROPE AND ASIA COMING TO THE US IN EARLY 2010
HD2 demonstrates the tight integration between Microsoft and HTC
TAOYUAN, Taiwan – November 4, 2009 – Today, HTC Corporation chief executive officer, Peter Chou, joined Microsoft Corp. chief executive officer, Steve Ballmer and Harvey Chang, chief executive officer of Taiwan Mobile to announce the availability of the highly anticipated HD2 in Europe and Taiwan. HTC and Microsoft also announced that the HD2 would be available in the United States with a major US carrier in early 2010.
"The HD2's amazing customer experience is a testament to the close partnership between HTC and Microsoft and we're excited to be bringing the HD2 to Taiwan and the United States," said Chou. "The HD2 is the first Windows® phone with HTC SenseTM, an HTC user experience focused on making the phone more simple and natural to use and by enabling people to personalise their mobile experience in their own unique way."
"Working with HTC, we've delivered great phones that help customers connect to the people and information they care about, wherever they are," said Ballmer. "The HTC HD2 shows what's possible through our close partnership with HTC and it breaks new ground for Windows phones by delivering a beautiful multi-touch screen that people will love."
The HD2 is the first Windows phone with HTC Sense, a customer experience focused on putting people at the centre by making their phones work in a more simple, natural and personal way. With its industry leading, high-resolution, 4.3-inch capacitive touch display, the ultra thin HTC HD2 delivers more visible content in a sharper, brighter and richer way.
The HD2 uses the first capacitive touch display on a Windows phone to make viewing, zooming and resizing websites, Microsoft Office files, PDF documents and pictures easier with just a pinch of your fingers. The large display also enables faster, more efficient and accurate typing using the onscreen keyboard. Utilizing Qualcomm's new 1Ghz Snapdragon mobile processor, the HTC HD2 offers enhanced performance that improves the speed of applications, videos, games and more.
Developed with a passion for enhancing people's lives through innovation, design and ease of use, HTC Sense is rooted in three fundamental principles of Make it Mine, Stay Close and Discover the Unexpected.
Make It Mine
The HD2 continues HTC's drive for personalization by reflecting not only what you want on your phone, but also where you are. Using its large 4.3 -inch window-like display, HTC has brought a new dimension to weather with a localized, animated weather experience that utilizes HD2's entire display without being invasive to your important content and information. The HD2 can also be further enhanced to reflect your needs and style by downloading a wealth of applications at the new Windows Marketplace for Mobile.
Stay Close
The HD2 helps you stay close to the important friends and colleagues in your life with HTC's people-centric communication approach that provides a single contact view that displays individual communication snapshots of your conversations with the people in your life regardless of whether a call, text, Facebook status update or email were used. While in the midst of email exchange with someone you can easily transition to a call by pressing the call button. HTC has also included a new Windows-based version of its Twitter application, HTC Peep. The pictures you take with the 5MP camera can also be quickly shared via Facebook or Twitter.
Discover the Unexpected
With the HTC Sense experience, the HTC HD2 includes a variety of enhancements that expand and improve the overall phone experience. The HD2 includes a variety of sensors including a proximity sensor that is used to prevent false screen touches when the phone is picked up to answer or make a call. A light sensor automatically adjusts the brightness of the display. Leveraging its 3G broadband connectivity, the HTC HD2 also offers personal Wi-Fi anywhere for your computer or other devices.
Also available for the HTC HD2 is the optional car kit that automatically transforms HD2's user interface into a finger friendly in-car navigation experience for driving.
Windows phone
As a new Windows phone, the HTC HD2 showcases the powerful messaging, browsing and productivity capabilities delivered by Windows Mobile 6.5. Offering a best in class e-mail experience complete with the ability to synchronize with Microsoft Exchange, you have the ability to check and manage multiple email accounts. Microsoft's new My Phone service enables you to automatically back up and synch photos, music, contacts and text messages for free from the HD2 to the web.
Availability
Already shipping in Europe, the HTC HD2 is available around the middle of November with Taiwan Mobile and will be available throughout Asia in the coming month. The HD2 will be available with a major carrier in the US in early 2010.
HD2 demonstrates the tight integration between Microsoft and HTC
TAOYUAN, Taiwan – November 4, 2009 – Today, HTC Corporation chief executive officer, Peter Chou, joined Microsoft Corp. chief executive officer, Steve Ballmer and Harvey Chang, chief executive officer of Taiwan Mobile to announce the availability of the highly anticipated HD2 in Europe and Taiwan. HTC and Microsoft also announced that the HD2 would be available in the United States with a major US carrier in early 2010.
"The HD2's amazing customer experience is a testament to the close partnership between HTC and Microsoft and we're excited to be bringing the HD2 to Taiwan and the United States," said Chou. "The HD2 is the first Windows® phone with HTC SenseTM, an HTC user experience focused on making the phone more simple and natural to use and by enabling people to personalise their mobile experience in their own unique way."
"Working with HTC, we've delivered great phones that help customers connect to the people and information they care about, wherever they are," said Ballmer. "The HTC HD2 shows what's possible through our close partnership with HTC and it breaks new ground for Windows phones by delivering a beautiful multi-touch screen that people will love."
The HD2 is the first Windows phone with HTC Sense, a customer experience focused on putting people at the centre by making their phones work in a more simple, natural and personal way. With its industry leading, high-resolution, 4.3-inch capacitive touch display, the ultra thin HTC HD2 delivers more visible content in a sharper, brighter and richer way.
The HD2 uses the first capacitive touch display on a Windows phone to make viewing, zooming and resizing websites, Microsoft Office files, PDF documents and pictures easier with just a pinch of your fingers. The large display also enables faster, more efficient and accurate typing using the onscreen keyboard. Utilizing Qualcomm's new 1Ghz Snapdragon mobile processor, the HTC HD2 offers enhanced performance that improves the speed of applications, videos, games and more.
Developed with a passion for enhancing people's lives through innovation, design and ease of use, HTC Sense is rooted in three fundamental principles of Make it Mine, Stay Close and Discover the Unexpected.
Make It Mine
The HD2 continues HTC's drive for personalization by reflecting not only what you want on your phone, but also where you are. Using its large 4.3 -inch window-like display, HTC has brought a new dimension to weather with a localized, animated weather experience that utilizes HD2's entire display without being invasive to your important content and information. The HD2 can also be further enhanced to reflect your needs and style by downloading a wealth of applications at the new Windows Marketplace for Mobile.
Stay Close
The HD2 helps you stay close to the important friends and colleagues in your life with HTC's people-centric communication approach that provides a single contact view that displays individual communication snapshots of your conversations with the people in your life regardless of whether a call, text, Facebook status update or email were used. While in the midst of email exchange with someone you can easily transition to a call by pressing the call button. HTC has also included a new Windows-based version of its Twitter application, HTC Peep. The pictures you take with the 5MP camera can also be quickly shared via Facebook or Twitter.
Discover the Unexpected
With the HTC Sense experience, the HTC HD2 includes a variety of enhancements that expand and improve the overall phone experience. The HD2 includes a variety of sensors including a proximity sensor that is used to prevent false screen touches when the phone is picked up to answer or make a call. A light sensor automatically adjusts the brightness of the display. Leveraging its 3G broadband connectivity, the HTC HD2 also offers personal Wi-Fi anywhere for your computer or other devices.
Also available for the HTC HD2 is the optional car kit that automatically transforms HD2's user interface into a finger friendly in-car navigation experience for driving.
Windows phone
As a new Windows phone, the HTC HD2 showcases the powerful messaging, browsing and productivity capabilities delivered by Windows Mobile 6.5. Offering a best in class e-mail experience complete with the ability to synchronize with Microsoft Exchange, you have the ability to check and manage multiple email accounts. Microsoft's new My Phone service enables you to automatically back up and synch photos, music, contacts and text messages for free from the HD2 to the web.
Availability
Already shipping in Europe, the HTC HD2 is available around the middle of November with Taiwan Mobile and will be available throughout Asia in the coming month. The HD2 will be available with a major carrier in the US in early 2010.
Delicious. Can't wait to get my hands on one!
What network will it be on in the UK? Becuse it's going to cost £over9000 to get it sim free, http://amirite.net ?
@Anthony
T-Mobile have got it exclusively in the UK mate, it's due out later this month! their pricing doesn't tend to be as bad as O2's or Vodafones.
http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/mobile-phones/phones/windows-mobile-phones/
Thanks jordn
@jordn, I have a feeling it could be on T-mobile US as well.
T-mobile don't have it exclusively in the UK, they're just likely to be the first to sell it. It appeared in O2's catalogue last month and they have just been postponing it's release to make sure they get the most out of their Pre launch. It will be available on O2 within the next few weeks.
Too Bad it's got 2 things going against it...
1) WinMo
2) T-Mobile
Unless this lands on Sprint or Verizon it's not going to succeed.
@SPRINT PLEASE!
Nice, its a small feat to make such a shitty UN-operating System like Windows Mobile pretty, but usable? Leave it to HTC.
Good Job!
frickin' march!?! i don't know if i CAN wait!
I'll buy a HTC HD2 Pro version. Got to have that keyboard. It doesn't have to tilt either, but the Pro version has to have a camera flash with the same size screen as the HD2
omg omg ! i live in asia!
Really? Do you know Chan - the guy with the black hair and glasses?
:)
OMG!!! OVER-GENERALIZATIONS ARE RACIST!!
HOPES FOR VERIZON!
im using the old SAMSUNG i760 and held back from getiing VZW TP2 or Imagio when i heard HD2 was coming to the US... i hope Verizon gets this or else il be really disappointed with big red
I really really hope it's Verizon. Although it would take a lot of hype out of the Droid.
My thoughts are that it's going to be T Mobile.
@insky
Unfortunately, I totally agree with you.
yeah but Verizon did pass on the iPhone and the glory of capacitive touch screen, this make up for it hehe aside from the Droid offerings, more WM cdma/gsm offerings
in my opinion if there would be a specific Windows phone, this should be it and big red should take command
No Android?.... =/
I received word from a T-Mobile USA employee that this is headed our (T-Mobile's) way! This makes me a very happy WinMo fanboy!
A small correction.. you meant to say WinDINOSAUR fanboy? :)
@Targa Why you gotta come in here, a WinMo post, and be a parade rainer onner? It doesnt make sense.
http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/HTC-HD2-beats-out-iPhone-3GS-and-Acer-neo-Touch-S200-in-battle-of-the-browsers-article-a_7712.html Seeing as how the HD2 ships with opera this is a fun little post
Nathan@
"Opera Mobile using its' server side compression to beat out Safari and IE.."
Server side compression? Try Engadge side test and let us know. HAHAHA LOL
So, Targa, since Sense UI replaces the dodgy WinMo UI which is its weakest point what exactly makes your mobile OS of choice better?
Mark Anderson@
You meant the application launcher Sense home screen? WinMo fanboys don't know
the difference between home screen and OS UI? What a surprise! HAHAHA LOL
@Targa
With the Sense UI HTC went deep with UI changes. It's not a launcher screen they tweaked *the entire UI.* This has been reported time and time again and is one of the reasons people are so hyped on this phone. Apparently they don't teach reading comprehension in Troll School.
No, Targa, I mean since the UI is the same, what are the underlying differences that are going to matter to the buyers?
Or, in other words: you got nothin'.
Actually, I think they teach reading /in/comprehension in troll school.
IIRC, the course is called "LALALALALALAICANTHEARYOULALALALALA 101"
@targa:
you're throughing out the results because opera used serverside compression to beat safari mobile and IE6mobile? well, I think you should watch the video again and use a stop watch with it. The fun fact is that IE6 on the Acer neoTouch had the same time that safari mobile had on the 3Gs which was 19 seconds. so then it seems Safari mobile is no better than IE6 right?
You should see OperMini 5 if you think Opera 9.7 is fast. I don't care how the website gets delivered to me as long as it's quick. I don't know how Safari mobile users live with a lot of sites out there not being able to be displayed due to flash and silverlight.
the screen looks gorgeous with those crisp graphics.........Does anyone know the dpi on this baby?
800x400
Actually that would be 480x800.
he asked for dpi, not for screen resolution ;)
I already know the resolution of the screen. I was asking about the dots per inch (dpi) i.e ~260 on the droid and on ~160 in the iPhone 3GS.... thanks anyway guys
What more do you need? You know the res, the screen size.. Display size: 2.11" × 3.52" (5.36cm × 8.93cm) = 227.55 PPI
227 DPI.
@Daza... Apparently Math skills... ;)
I believe its: Display size 4.3" - 3.69" x 2.21" or 9.37cm x 5.62cm = 216.97 PPI or 217 PPI with 0.1171mm dot pitch.
Source - http://members.ping.de/~sven/dpi.html
so when the fk is it coming out for o2 in the UK? Bloody hell.
My friend who works in o2 says 16th November is the release date.
Thankfully my upgrade date is the 1st december.
This phone has better specs than the Droid and 3GS and it looks sexier. But the whole WinMo thing takes the oomph out of it.
HTC would really turn heads with an Android 2.0 version!
Why? What can Android do that WinMo can't do?
I'm guessing HTC knows their markets, consumer preferences and OS loyalties better than you do, so STFU about Android. They already said they'd be making one in the near future, FFS.
@ichheissesuperfantastisch
Yeah I guess you're right, I don't know their loyalties with MS. They must be getting a kickback from Redmond to put that ancient dinosaur os on this phone. I don't blame them, they are a business after all.
I'm still waiting for a response to my question.
It's interesting that you're monitoring the thread but choosing to ignore the questions that you don't have answers to.
No, Nico, that wont do since Sense UI - which will also run on any Android variant - takes care of the UI issues.
We want to know YOUR specific reasons since you've obviously weighed the pros and cons.
So, come on then. Put up or shut up.
Sorry Nico but those links still don't answer my question (and each of Engadget's complaints are largely dealt with by the HD2) . What, specifically, can Android do that Windows Mobile can't?
Be open sourced?
It seems obvious that this pone is quite expensive, and is partly subsidized by Microsoft... so that is the reason HTC can clearly say they have to honor their relationship with Microsoft and that the HD2 will never be an Android phone.
I'm fine with WinMo, but I hait the wait... which carrier n the US? Will it get the stylus functionality that HTC filed as a patent? I will not be getting this phone unless it has a stylus at some point.