Shocker: HTC plans Windows Phone 7 Series device by year's end

In news apt to surprise absolutely no one, HTC CEO Peter Chou told Forbes this week that his company would make a Windows Phone 7 Series handset by the end of the year. For the sake of argument, we suppose there are a couple reasons he wouldn't want to. Historically, HTC has pledged loyalty to Microsoft time and again, even making the premium HD2 a Windows Mobile exclusive, but conspiracy theorists might suggest Microsoft returned the favor by denying the HD2 entry to Windows Phone 7 Series. Also, HTC has been rocking the bejeezus out of Android as of late -- the news that the company's planning a WP7S phone comes alongside HTC's claim that the Nexus One was a success. Regardless, we never questioned if HTC would build a WP7S handset, only when; there's no way they're going to let a lucrative new smartphone market get mopped up by the likes of Samsung and LG.

[greggy Posted Mar 27th 2010 6:38AM]

Good, the more competition the better.

[Federaly Posted Mar 27th 2010 7:49AM]

I like the apt title.

[Almo Posted Mar 27th 2010 8:35AM]

HTC HD3! MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!

[michaelwub Posted Mar 27th 2010 8:54AM]

@greggy

While LG and Samsung are decent as handset makers, only HTC's hardware will match the elegance of WP7S. I reckon.

[n8equalsd Posted Mar 27th 2010 9:33AM]

@Almo
Yeah! I want to see a 1.5 GB processor in it too!

[nwhat Posted Mar 27th 2010 9:42AM]

@n8equalsd
huh?

[Endadget Posted Mar 27th 2010 9:51AM]

People still care about this WP7S, even tho it turned out to be a dumbphone OS?

[incendy Posted Mar 27th 2010 10:10AM]

@greggy

Agreed..

And to HTC, can it please have a physical keyboard?

[ckrames1234 Posted Mar 27th 2010 10:45AM]

@n8equalsd Its 1.5 GHz not GB
Gigahertz not Gigabytes

hertz- used to measure frequency
bytes- used to measure digital storage

[n8equalsd Posted Mar 27th 2010 10:46AM]

@nwhat
it's a joke referring to a fan-made concept of the HD3

[filjosh Posted Mar 27th 2010 11:57AM]

@Endadget On which Planet WP7S looks Dumb to you? Check it again

HD3 please +1

[viditbhargava Posted Mar 27th 2010 12:46PM]

@greggy HTC EVO in GSM version with WP7s? Wow...cant wait.

[masta vaan Posted Mar 27th 2010 2:10PM]

@n8equalsd
have fun sitting with a blank screen then and no processing power... its 1.5 GHz, not GB

[simbadogg Posted Mar 27th 2010 3:07PM]

@michaelwub
i wish i could highest rank you into oblivion

[Celz Posted Mar 27th 2010 3:16PM]

@greggy If Ms expects me to buy a WP7S phone they had better let htc quietly innovate.. I just played with my cousins Omnia Pro and wasnt impressed with the samsung customizations.. Wm Sense is still the best mobile UI by a long shot..

[abedinthehouse Posted Mar 27th 2010 4:45PM]

@Almo
Yes please an HD3 that blows away the EVO 4G. Now theres an idea!

[jennycoldway Posted Mar 27th 2010 11:16PM]

@greggy I don't care if on their first try they failed, just make the wp7 there HTC. Reactions: http://bit.ly/windows-phone-7-reactions-examined

[smover Posted May 5th 2010 11:07AM]

@Almo at least this time HTC can't fail it with their own bugs. My HD2 isn't reliable enought (the keyboard bugs *really* piss me off sometimes !!). It could have been great but there's issues with it, the camera is crap and the sound is not as great as my 3 years old N95-8GB. I'll try to check if a newer ROM is available, but phones HAVE TO BE good out of the box...

So i'll think twice before i get another HTC.

Pit

[PhoenixFox Posted Mar 27th 2010 6:38AM]

To be fair the Evo 4G is basically an Android HD2 with WiMax...

[Sogeking Posted Mar 27th 2010 9:38AM]

@PhoenixFox

I'm guessing they used parts initially meant for the HD2, which they knew wouldn't sell much after MS's announcement. Not that big a loss for them, I guess. But we'll have to wait for a couple of teardowns before that theory is confirmed.

[Beroz Posted Mar 27th 2010 9:40AM]

@PhoenixFox which what u hoped the HD2 would be in the first place :P

[TareG Posted Mar 27th 2010 10:39AM]

@PhoenixFox
....and 720p HD shooting and playback
....and a front camera for video conferencing

[Edobe Posted Mar 27th 2010 12:11PM]

@Sogeking The HD2 sold out nationwide. The anouncement has not hurt sales at all

[staticjethro Posted Mar 27th 2010 12:33PM]

@PhoenixFox
What about the HDMI out and the 8MP shooter?

[Oghowie Posted Mar 27th 2010 1:10PM]

I think you need to re-read the spec list for the evo.

[Sogeking Posted Mar 27th 2010 2:22PM]

@Edobe

Allow me to introduce you to this little place called "the rest of the world" (where there still are HD2s available in stores), in particular this little country called "Taiwan" where HTC makes their phones and presumably has a huge stockpile of electronic components which they mix and match to make phones. Of particular interest are the 4.3" screens, the 1GHz Snapdragon processors, and a good percentage of the body, which these two magnificent beasts share in common: http://pocketnow.com/html/portal/news/0000009229//supersonic.jpg

Anyway, what I'm saying is, I'm sure the HD2s that have been made already will sell out eventually (MS is not discontinuing 6.5), and the parts that were originally intended for the HD2 will be used in newer phones.

[PhoenixFox Posted Mar 27th 2010 3:08PM]

@Everyone

I know that there's the 8 megapixel camera and HD video recording and stuff. But I bet that if HTC had been releasing the HD2 NOW instead of however many months ago, it would have included all those things.

[NigelL Posted Mar 27th 2010 4:33PM]

@PhoenixFox THe first HD2 specs leaks 8 months agon mentioned a 8Mpix camera and there's an 8Mpix reg entry in the Camera pplication of the HD2. HTC prolly ditched it afterwards and slapped a 5Mpix on it: http://www.mobiletechworld.com/2010/03/24/htc-evo-4g-announced-the-biggest-the-baddest-smartphone-ever/

[scioncas Posted Mar 27th 2010 5:32PM]

@PhoenixFox and an HDMI, it is not so simple as saying is the HD2....
camera is better as well, and unfortunately, no hw buttons

[android user Posted Mar 28th 2010 4:15AM]

@cwalters74 Why not the Dell Streak which has bigger display and will retail at lower price tag? http://gadgetmix.com/index/streak-mini-5-review/

[norfolk Posted Mar 28th 2010 5:24PM]

@Edobe And in fact... they are still available at most Radio Shacks!

[genomecop Posted Mar 27th 2010 6:43AM]

Good. Wheres the Preorder?

[JCerna Posted Mar 28th 2010 2:15AM]

@genomecop
Yep if HTC says to me pay me $400 and i'll get you an hd3 by the end of year I would.

[Kev007 Posted Mar 27th 2010 6:43AM]

how about the HD3?

[kwaan Posted Mar 27th 2010 6:44AM]

1.5GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB+ flash, 720P video recording, 8MP+ dual LED flash camera, keyboard just like Touch Pro 2 and a 2000mAh battery = Jizz in my pants. Please HTC?

[David Topping Posted Mar 27th 2010 7:12AM]

@kwaan

Completely agree ... all except for the last bit, you're all alone on that.

[darkmax Posted Mar 27th 2010 8:26AM]

@kwaan

In reality, and from my observations, HTC will probably make it around these specs:-

1Ghz processor
4GB Storage
5mpx camera, SD video recording
1000 mHa battery.

[Almo Posted Mar 27th 2010 8:37AM]

@kwaan

All agree minus the keyboard, get with the times.

[YvesOfWinter Posted Mar 27th 2010 9:11AM]

@kwaan

Tegra 250 anyone?

[Endadget Posted Mar 27th 2010 9:47AM]

@kwaan

You forgot xenon flash. ;)

[BigJayDogg3 Posted Mar 27th 2010 11:22AM]

@Almo

No. Give me the keyboard. I can decide to use an OSK on a phone with a hardware keyboard. I can't magically slide a keyboard out of a phone that doesn't have one.

[Steve Jobs Clone Posted Mar 27th 2010 11:26AM]

@darkmax
The minimum requirement for storage is 8GB.

[krishansy Posted Mar 27th 2010 11:26AM]

@kwaan

I think the same specs (except for the battery part) were published for HD3 at one of the sites - perhaps some Redmond Pie.

[filjosh Posted Mar 27th 2010 12:08PM]

@kwaan Only change I would like is Xenon Flash insted of LED flash

[da Black Anarch Posted Mar 27th 2010 12:09PM]

@kwaan ^ This...except for the jizz. I can do that all by myself.

[masta vaan Posted Mar 27th 2010 2:16PM]

@darkmax
the 1ghz processor is minimum, but so far, there aren't many stronger ones, so that's probably what it will be. also there will be at least 8 GB of memory, and most smartphones nowadays come with batteries bigger than 1000mAh

[TareG Posted Mar 27th 2010 6:46AM]

Make it as minimalistic as the one pictured above.... with a thin qwerty.... or not.

[JRKScope Posted Mar 27th 2010 6:48AM]

I am in strong belief that HTC's WP7 model will outshine the LG and Samsung equivalents in looks and usability :D

[TareG Posted Mar 27th 2010 6:50AM]

Enough already with the "Nexus One failed" argument. The Nexus One:

- Was sold exclusively online, not in a store where people could walk in and hold it in their hands, try it, then make a decision.
- Was released on T-Mobile only; the #4 company in the country.
- Was mainly sold unsubsidized, with very few people eligible for the $199 price tag, in an already limited pool of customers (T-Mobile, online only).

[z0phi3l Posted Mar 27th 2010 8:02AM]

@InternetExplorer Don't believe the hype, it's your typical N1 bashing by iCrap fans

If you look at the N1, an iPhone and a droid you can see the difference ad the N1 is clearly the best, don't let some random blogger persuade you with bogus arguments about "rendering techniques" and crap like that