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.
he really can't answer the question because there's no answer to it. android brings nothing new to the table that windows mobile isn't already sporting.
@jakem - is the HD2 completely finger friendly all the way through the OS?
even in the settings that you'd only need to access fairly infrequently?
(this is an honest question BTW - i'm not trolling)
@jakem: What can Android do that WinMo can't?
Feel like a modern OS.
Seriously. I just went from WinMo (Diamond) to Android (Hero). While the Hero can't really do much that the Diamond can't, it's just.... *better*. WinMo is a very very powerful OS, but it looks and feels absolutely ancient. It needs a complete UI rebuild from the ground up.
It's like comparing Windows 95 to Windows 3.1. What could Win95 do that 3.1 couldn't? Not much, to be honest, save for some extra compatibilities.
@Shapey:
Won't know for sure about finger friendly throughout OS on HD2 until opportunity to try it. On a 2004 era VGA 4" screen Toshiba WM PDA using the standard WM interface, I never use the stylus. All OS features can be set/changed without a stylus on the 4" VGA screen.
@Jon
The HD2 uses Sense UI. It's exactly the same Sense UI that runs on your Hero.
jon, are you sure your limitations arent from the screen size or the processor? I had a touch pro, it was a nice phone just too small of a screen and the processor was kinda meh. right now im using a g1 which i love but the ram sucks and no LED bothers me too.
I will be happy with whichever phone has the specs of the hd2 or droid, comes out first, lower price, gsm, and if it has 6.5 then also be compatible with win7 or winphone7 whatever.
android and winmo are both great, its just a matter of preference.
How you doin?
I've used Android and I prefer WinMo over it. WinMo really looks like it shines on a 1Ghz processor and that's apparent. This is a win for Redmond.
Android has their phones, let us have ours.
Dear HTC, it's really not a joke that I would pay up to 1000 Euros/Dollars for a device like ths WITH Android 2.0 You obviously dont want my money, do you?
Either that you or you sadly don't know the difference between unlocked and contracted phones.
Long live the European freedom that lets the customer choose carrier!
For a capitalist country, the US system seems awfully restricting. The carrier dictates which phones you can use etc.
What are you complaining about? Don't you know that the US telecommunications industry represents all that is good about competition. Have faith in the market.
The European system that you are so fond of is socialism and that's evil.
I'm sure he was joking about. We're in the EU are NOT socialist. Not in the way you think. There is competetion here, a lot. It's the reason why the prices have dropped so MUCH over the last 10 years.
For the majority of people in Europe (or the UK at the very least), the carrier does determine which phones you can have as a lot of handsets are tied up in exclusive deals with one or the other.
True, you could always buy an unlocked handset and use it with any SIM you want but most people can't and/or don't want the up-front cost associated with purchasing that way. Or, obviously, there's always the option of switching carriers to get the phone you want.
However, either of those courses of action are just as easily achievable in the US as they are over here.
I was joking but I'd say that the price of rail tickets, gas and electricity prices and the iPhone on Orange here in the UK contradict your claim about competition driving prices down.
Jakem said "Have faith in the market."
Ahahahahahhaha!!!!! Oh my dear God, I think I just pooped myself...
The same market that let monopolies [not competitive] generate fictitious wealth, crashing the entire world's financial systems? EU's antitrust laws [which foster competition] are WAY more effective than the US's "free market"...
Sadly, it's a government enforced monopoly rather than a truly open capitalist system.
It's Phonedamanium! Sure has been a lot of phone news lately. And I'm loving it.
I so want this one! But I've had my Touch Diamond 2 for just a few months... :/ and I've already bought too many things for XMas... :/
DAMN YOU HTC!!!!
Just turn to XDA-developers.com and run the HD2 software on your Touch Diamond 2, just like I did. It runs very well, just search for Dutty's ROM.
Thanks for the tip! :)
on various price comparison sites it is listed for 560-590 EUR in Germany without contract
nice of HTC to make it official - i've got this on preorder and getting worried it was going to slip and slip...
Yes!!! I knew passing on the TP2 and the Imagio was hard, but well worth it!!!
When is this coming to Malaysia? It says 'Asia' but Asia is a huge place... many different celcos and currencies... I want this one please.
Just another new geek toy for you to play with all by yourself in a corner until the next wet ass comes trolling along.
Oh, by the way, don't get all happy just yet until that thing is on a network. Cause we know how much of a bitch them multimedia cellphones are made into once a telecomm brings them aboard.
...huh?
+1 @ n900
@Niko
LOl you still didnt answer the question . The questions isnt which UI looks better, android or WinMo. it is WHAT CAN ANDROID DO THAT WINMO CANT???? HAHA, i know the answer and that is nothing. A UI is just a UI. As you can plainly see, most android phones that are out or coming out have a UI on it that isn't google's (google makes android by the way lol). Same with WinMo. This is running the HTC sense UI. Look at the hero, i bet you love that don't ya? You are probably uneducated enough to believe that is the android UI aren't u? Nope, that is also HTC just as the HD2's interface is HTC. The difference is WinMo has 10x the apps and way more functionality in general. Before you say it, no those apps are not all in the market place, but they are in many other places and coming to the marketplace a little at a time. I win, back off :)
Android has 15,000 'MODERN' apps that use modern features such as the accelerometer, digital compass, and now even multi touch. Last time i heard, windows mobile had about 20,000 apps, many of which are close to a decade old. i don't think that counts as 10x the apps.
you lose:)
@ NICO: I tried to answer you in that specific thread but somehow I cant. So, I hope this works: Android is a more modern and light OS. Its apps are fully usable with fingers, so you dont have to use a stylus. But you are right in the way, that people often confuse the OS itself with its GUI. The GUI of WinMo sucks, at least today. The OS itself isnt THAT bad.
But you have to also consider that we are talking basicly about the OS itself. That what HTC does is HTS's thing or magic, call it whatever you like. Without HTC WinMo is crap!
I think you are wrong here saying that windows mobile is crap without the HTC UI. I like the UI on windows mobile 6.5 and 6.5.1 (I like 6.5.1 better though). still, that's your opinion.
why are they waiting to release these great phones here in the states?
North America has comparatively poor carrier competition. The States specifically has only 4 major carriers, and only one of them uses the semi-standard UMTS 1900mhz 3G spectrum: AT&T. And you can probably imagine why AT&T doesn't care to jump on the latest smartphones (hint: it could hurt their sales of that other phone).
That leaves Tmo US, which uses a non-standard UMTS 1700mhz spectrum, or Sprint/Verizon on CDMA frequencies; either way, HTC would have to crank out a completely separate batch -- and thus why HTC has historically produced Europe/Asia phones first, and then followed up with North America versions later.
If this comes to Verizon and not ATT I'm switching, ATT has worse coverage, 3G coverage pales in comparison to Verizon. I'm sick of waiting for an Android phone to come to ATT. I'm currently using a G1 on ATT, as is my wife (of course there is no 3G in my area) but I will move to WinMo if necessary...XDA me!
Really, haven't noticed. In my area I get a much better signal than my friend with his Verizon phone.
Sorry i was kind of vague, I travel for work alot throughout the US and when I had Alltel I had a more consistently strong signal in every location I was compared to ATT, which I've had about 4 years now. I believe that Alltel contracted to use Verizon towers at that time. So in my experience I preferred the coverage with Alltel (now part of Verizon) over what I have now. I'm not using 3G now so that has no effect on my current situation but it may in the future.
I'd be lying if I said this phone wasn't absolutely gorgeous.
SPRINT PLEASE!!! If not I will more than likely switch carriers to get this.... Sorry Sprint...
It is already on sale at ebay for around $650.
The days of getting excited over an overseas release are over. Release it in the US first, or not at all. By the time it gets here the tech will be out of date thanks to the increased smartphone market that's developing.
why should they release it in the us first? i guess the iphone has quite a great market share there so they first bring it into other markets where htc phones have a bigger share.
oh and sorry to dissappoint you: the US is still not the center of this world, even if the maps in your news tv shows show it centered.
the US is getting other stuff first, so why whine about this particular one?
Why should they care about the US market first? There are more people in Europe and Asia, and the NON-standard US frequencies make it difficult too...
@rhill345
LOL wow, oh so uninformed aren't we. First of all, "moden app" is debatable. What you might not like or think is moden is purely opinion. I am holding a g1 in my hand and i tap the market, now imagine how many of those "15000" apps are themes for UI's such as ahome etc. hahaha. How is that a moden app? Or better yet, an app at all Now i see You have obviously never been to xda-developers.com either :)
Thanks for making my point for me though.
ps. I took my win back
@rhill345
LOL wow, oh so uninformed aren't we. First of all, "moden app" is
debatable. What you might not like or think is moden is purely
opinion. I am holding a g1 in my hand and i tap the market, now
imagine how many of those "15000" apps are themes for UI's such as
ahome etc. hahaha. How is that a moden app? Or better yet, an app
at all Now i see You have obviously never been to
xda-developers.com either :)
Thanks for making my point for me though.
ps. I took my win back
hopes for AT&T
They have been teasing us for too long. I don't even want this anymore
Yeah, shut up and go play your crappy motorola android fanboys! Now the WM- daddy is coming! Thanx god I live in Europe
Up to 5 months. What a Shame.
I really wish it comes to t-mobile U.S.A....or at least they make a 1700/2100 3G version