Since neither T-Mobile nor AT&T have ponied up a branded, high-end Android device yet (though the former is almost certainly
about to announce the Galaxy S), we were particularly chuffed to get the news from HTC today that it'll be bringing the lovely
Desire to US shores through carriers in August. Thing is, it
won't be coming through any of the big guys -- instead, it's destined for "select regional operators," and HTC is quick to note that the Hero has been "well received... in regional markets," so we imagine some of those same little guys will be scooping the Desire. We're told to wait for word from specific carriers on pricing and technical details, but the branded Desires have been confirmed to sport a 1GHz
Snapdragon and
Sense atop
Android 2.1, two of the most important line items -- now let's just make sure we're already cracking on a
Froyo update, yeah?
Update: Cellular South
is on the short list, which makes sense since they carried the Hero as well. Thanks, Richard!
posted June 16th 2010 12:39PM
At this point, no desire.
@who said what
Agreed... I have no desire for a device that doesn't have FroYo. Hope manufactures are lobbying to Google about it.
AT&T should have locked this up as an easy device to add to their line up, but they obviously have no interest in anything that competes with the iPhone.
FYI AT&T you're still #2 carrier and one jesus phone won't change that.
@who said what
iDesire though
@who said what
great phone! engadget app is pants mind...
@Plazmic Flame
You realize that nothing comes with froyo, right?
@Waltah
Yes, I do realize that. If Google never announced FroYo, I would have jumped on something by now but given all that it offers, I'm holding out.
@Plazmic Flame
I'm not sure what your on about froyo is coming to the desire for sure, it's just a case of when...
@Plazmic Flame You do know that the Desire will be HTC's first device to get Froyo, don't you?
@who said what
I agree. its ironic - Froyo and the multiple Android versions are now starting to hurt the manufacturers.. In this case, Froyo is making HTC Desire (an awesome phone IMHO) look bad because it runs Eclair.
@who said what: why are all Android phones CDMA? eitha way, I have no idea why ANYONE would get the Desire instead of the Evo or the Incredible, phones that already have released in the US. And Droid X and Droid 2, which are to come.
@who said what
This is the Nexus One's deformed twin that was born with defects...4 hard buttons (on a touch device).
Nexus One. Win. Always.
@guitarkid
Actually that would the Nexus One. It will always be the first in line.
God I can't wait for Froyo on my N1.
@spielnicht 4 hard buttons that... wait for it... WORK! I've heard the touch buttons are actually a bit off on the Desire. And the tactile feedback of a hard button pwnz. A touch phone doesn't mean that it can't have hardware buttons.
And the Desire has Sense.
@blenderman345
All 3G phones I know of use CDMA channel coding. T-mobile, ATT, Verizon, Sprint all use CDMA channel coding for their 3G. However, the encompassing term for the mobile-to-tower for T-mobile, ATT, and so on is UMTS. The encompassing term for Sprint and Verizon and the other few providers that use the same technology is CDMA2000. So they're all CDMA, it's about CDMA2000 vs UMTS.
'select regional operators'
Neve sounds good.
@kiwi32
Read "never"
@kiwi32
One of those "select" operators is US Cellular, my carrier.
I'm excited b.c its the first android phone they're offering. Great service + a great phone = WIN in my book.
@brendon
Sorry, US Cellular is a CDMA carrier and this is a GSM device, so no, it's not coming to US Cellular.
@LotusLord http://www.facebook.com/USCellular/posts/109582565746792
AFIK it will be coming to US Cellular
@LotusLord
yes actually it is
@LotusLord
Definitely coming to US Cellular. I work for them, got to play with it a couple of weeks ago. The HTC Hero was a GSM phone in Europe and now we have a CDMA version here.
Hmm. If it's going to US Cellular, that means HTC made a CDMA version. Which means it could go to Verizon.
I've always liked the Desire over the Nexus One and the oddly-shaped Incredible.
no major carriers? -_-
@iName theres a thing called unlocked phones. get with the program. you don't need a phone attached to a carrier to get a phone... a phone is a phone.
Slightly late in the day all things considered but this is still an awesome phone.
make a cdma version and slap it on virgin mobile for epic cheap win
@ComeShot High-end smartphones on MVNOs? That was more like what killed Amp'd Mobile. It's not a match business-wise. (And the Incredible is the CDMA Desire basically.)
@ZekeWeeks
Virgin Mobile Canada is pretty much a MVNO aswell and they have the HTC Legend. However the USA branch is owned by Sprint so there are two different stories.
Welcome to the android party our rural friends
US Cellular this summer. CDMA carrier.
@Rick Astley yup. It's basically confirmed. It's like all over their Facebook page.
Hate those HTC phones made with cheap plastics.
@hell hound
My mate has one. It doesn't feel cheap at all. It's a lovely bit of kit.
@hell hound Yeah, I have the Desire and it doesn't feel cheap at all, in fact it feels better than my iPhone 3G in my opinion
@hell hound
pathetic attempt at misdirection! :D it only cost me 400euros, 16gb iphone 3g s is 700euros go fidure what those bits of metal cost you.
@MrJimlad
figure*
@hell hound
I too have a Desire and I can say the build quality is amazing, I love the phone, it has a great feel and the components used are of clearly high quality.
@hell hound
now if you had a shot at the battery life or mic/speaker i wouldn't argue, ok perhaps i would but only a little and just for the fun really :D
@hell hound
not cheap it all, maybe the legends bests it, but that aint shocking for a unibody product ...
try this: the desire is a thinkpad r series, the legend a unibody macbook and the iphone an acer whatever
Another high-end android phone eludes AT&T. Fuck AT&T =\
@SamTime Between this and the Aria announcement, it seems to be abundantly clear that AT&T's just not willing to put out anything that competes w/the iPhone. I thought they were just bidding their time but it seems they're just not gonna do such a thing anytime soon, period.
Bad news for Android fans, but looking at the # of iPhone pre-orders I doubt AT&T's gonna care. The EVO sold what, 60,000 on launch day? (including mine, ordered at midnight!) 1/10th as many iPhone pre-orders? I can see why AT&T could care less and would continue bending over for Apple.
I'm DEFINITELY glad I made the call and switched over from AT&T tho...
@SamTime If you want the Desire on AT&T, you can wait for Telus to get it in Canada, and get one of those unlocked. It'll even work with AT&T's 3G band.
It's a damn shame when regional carriers have better handsets than the second largest US carrier.
@BigJayDogg3
lol, not to mention that the 3rd and 4th carriers phone kick their a$$ as well...
That's why I'm hoping this comes to Cellular South (Regional Provider that has the hero and about to release the Milestone) and i can leave ATT and their fkn iphone!!!
I'm actually looking forward to this on US Cellular. They have a plan now for Windows Mobile and Blackberry phones where you can get data only for $30/month, and add tethering for another $15/month. If they also do this for Android, I'm all over it.
@chandler actually BIS and Windows Phone data is only $25 a month right now with an option to add tethering for $15 a month. When Android comes it is rumored that data prices will be raised to $30 a month with either the same tethering package or one that costs more. It is however confirmed, on HowardForums, that Android data will be $30.
the only thing about the desire I dont like is that not everyone can experience how lovely it is.
Froyo is an inevitability, though it is a lovely device even without it.
All this talk about froyo and I haven't seen any device running it natively yet :(
@leigh
Youtube is your friend, lots of people pimping out FroYo on many devices.