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Best Buy ramping up to take Sprint Hero preorders
If you've got $50 and a hankering for CDMA-powered Android, look no further than Best Buy Mobile where presales of the HTC Hero for Sprint have now been confirmed for a September 13 kickoff. It's hard to gauge how tight supply of these bad boys is going to be out of the gate, so realistically, this could go either way -- money well-spent or extraordinarily poorly-squandered -- but in any event, at least you're getting the Grant back in a few weeks' time when you see that $50 deduction on your receipt. Don't go squandering it on an extended service plan, alright? [Thanks, Mark]
HTC Touch Pro2 graces Verizon on September 11
Alright, so maybe a square Nokia isn't your style -- we understand. Maybe you'd like something a little more businesslike, something with a little more Exchange ActiveSync flair and a keyboard with room to spare. What you're looking for, we reckon, is the Touch Pro2 -- and now that Sprint and T-Mobile both have it, it's Verizon's turn to get real with HTC's latest QWERTY beast. Knowing full well that this is a businessperson's dream, HTC and Verizon have gone ahead and stuffed EDGE in there to keep you connected while you're abroad; otherwise, you've got the same WVGA resolution, 3.2 megapixel cam, GPS, and WiFi as the other guys, and just like Sprint, you're signed up for that all-important 3.5mm headphone jack. Global capability doesn't come cheap in this case, though: expect to pay $299.99 on a two-year deal before a $100 mail-in rebate.
Nokia Twist launching on Verizon starting September 13
The Keepin' It Real Fake industry has become so good, so fast, so well-tuned to market trends that we knew it was just a matter of time before it'd be consistently beating the real phones to market. What we didn't expect, necessarily, was for Nokia to start making its own fakes. We can't tell what's going on exactly, but it appears that the twisty E81 that we saw a while back could've very well been a genuine article -- either that, or it was scooped up well ahead of release in China and cloned ages before Nokia had intended the phone to be announced. Anyhow, this thing is launching as the Twist for Nokia, the bizarre swivel phone that's been rumored for a while now. Alongside the Surge, the Twist proves that Espoo's committed to releasing totally customized gear for US carriers, and we'll be especially curious to see how well the swivel works in practice here. It'll run $149.99 on a two-year deal before rebate, featuring a 3 megapixel autofocus cam with flash, full HTML browser, so-called "Habitat Mode" (like the Intrigue before it), EV-DO Rev. 0, and a full QWERTY keyboard that swivels away to turn the phone into a near-perfect square. It also features replaceable faceplates and is said to have some sort of lighting arrangement around the swivel ring that's user-customizable -- perfect for your next fog-filled rave. The interwebs and "select NYC locations" all get it on September 13 with everyone else following on come the 21st, so go ahead and make some square-shaped room in your pocket right now, why don't you?
Video: Sprint HTC Touch Pro2 unboxed, compared to T-Mobile version
There's not long to wait now, with September 8th confirmed as the date the Touch Pro2 hits Sprint stores, but just in case your cup runneth over with anticipation, we've been to the future and videotaped what you'll be doing this coming Tuesday morning. The Sprint model you see above comes with a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack (is that a chorus of approval we hear?) and some minor keyboard and color scheme modifications from the T-Mobile version we reviewed a while back, but yeah, you already knew that. Anxious to see it? Run along past the break and look out for the new back cover, it's quite the eye catcher. [Thanks, thedoctor]
Sprint developer site claims HTC Hero as network's "first Android device"
These two have been eying each other from opposite ends of the room for quite some time now, but at long last, we're seeing the first semi-official word that HTC's Hero is indeed coming to the Now Network. Planted over in the Android section of Sprint's own Developer site, we're greeted with this statement: "Announcing the HTC Hero, which will be the first Android device running on the Sprint network." The brief post (copied in full after the break) goes on to inform readers that the Sprint developer program will deploy an Android development section by September's close, and there's even a direct link to begin downloading the Android 1.5 SDK immediately. Of course, this isn't as good as a carefully worded press release from the bowels of Overland Park, but it's certainly enough to whet our appetites. C'mon Sprint -- out with the price and release date, pronto! [Via Phandroid]
Road Tested: the Verizon MiFi portable broadband router
For the last couple of weeks, I've been testing the Verizon MiFi portable WiFi hotspot. After writing about the MiFi, a few months back, I was placed on a waiting list to receive a test unit. Could the MiFi enhance the iPod touch experience to bring it into the realm of the iPhone? A unit finally came free and I finally got my hands-on experience to discover whether my assumptions would be proved right or wrong. The MiFi, which is a portable EV-DO router, provides a 3G connection through an absolutely tiny unit. All plastic, it's about as thick as an iPhone and about two-thirds as large as its front face. The MiFi's entire user interface is its single button (seen at the bottom right of the image here). When pressed, the button switches on and glows green. Pressed again and held, the unit turns off and the green glow disappears. Sprint offers a near-identical unit, except it's finished in brushed metal instead of black. Read on to discover how my MiFi testing went...
HTC Snap comes to Alltel for $79.99
Alltel customers -- totally legit ones who've been left out of the Verizon integration -- have a few things going for them, not the least of which is a one-year contract policy that applies across the lineup. That means you can get a Tour for the same two bills you'd pay on Sprint or Verizon but with only half the time commitment, but now, it also means you can get an HTC Snap (generic version pictured above) for just $80. Considering it's the same form factor with international roaming capability that the Tour offers, that might be $120 worth saving if you're not married to BlackBerry OS and you're willing to give WinMo a fair shake. That's not so crazy of an idea, is it? [Via Phone Scoop]
Verizon beefs up global modem line with UMW190
Verizon's really starting to buy into this global 3G data thing, offering modems that do EV-DO domestically and HSPA abroad; problem is, ZTE's AD3700 that's on the market currently is... shall we say, a little too "in-your-face" for some folks. For those individuals, we might recommend the more buttoned-up UMW190 from PCD, which offers triband HSPA to go along with the EV-DO Rev. A that you'll enjoy domestically. Those with pockets deep enough to withstand the heavy-hitting roaming bills can grab the UMW190 now online (later this month in stores) for $49.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate.
Move over, Sholes: Verizon getting Android-powered 'Desire' from HTC?
A good, hard look at Verizon's WinMo strategy tells you that the company isn't loyal to a single brand when it comes to mobile platforms (and why should it be?), so we can't say we're terribly surprised to see a leaked inventory doc suggesting HTC wants in on Big Red's Android action. All of the Verizon-focused Android talk as of late has focused on Motorola's Sholes -- but as Android goes, HTC's still the Goliath to Moto's David, so it would make a lot of sense that we're seeing some action out of Taiwan here, especially in light of the fact that we've got the CDMA-flavored Hero coming up for Sprint. The screenshot leads us to believe that the model will be called "Desire" (now that we hear it, we're surprised Samsung hasn't snapped that up already) with a model number of 6200, sourced through the shadowy industry middlemen over at PCD. Beyond that, though, your guess is as good as ours.
Sprint follows T-Mobile's lead, wants $350 for HTC Touch Pro2
We figured the suits over at T-Mobile USA were on some of that good stuff when they slapped an almost comical $350 (on contract) price tag on HTC's Touch Pro2, but evidently said "stuff" has made its way into the halls of Overland Park as well. After months of watching evidence mount, Sprint has finally come clean and admitted that HTC's EV-DO Rev. A-equipped superphone is coming to its network, and with it will come access to Sprint TV as well as NFL Mobile Live and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile apps. The smartphone will go on sale September 8th, though you'll have to pony up $349.99 (after a $100 mail-in rebate) in order to secure one on a two-year contract. We're all about that 3.6-inch WVGA tilting screen, but with Palm's Pre selling on this very network for a full $150 less, we're thinking this one won't appeal to many outside of the WinMo faithful.
Motorola W766 'Entice' ramping up for Verizon?
Seems like it was just yesterday that the W755 launched, doesn't it? Actually, no it doesn't -- it was a good fifteen months ago -- so it makes sense that Verizon would have a replacement all queued up and ready to go. The W766 has apparently graduated to the point of coolness where it's worthy of an actual name, getting the "Entice" title and featuring a 2.2-inch primary display, 2 megapixel cam, microSD support up to 8GB, and touch-sensitive music controls (just like the phone it's replacing). If you want it... well, the good news is that retailers are apparently already starting to take stock, but the bad news is that they're under strict orders to hold off on breaking 'em open until they've run out of W755s. So who's going to take one for the team and buy those up, huh?
China Telecom talking to Palm for the Pre?
Nabbing a contract with a carrier pushing into nine-figure subscriber count territory would go a long way toward helping any manufacturer's woes, so it's reasonable to believe that Palm would be shopping its latest wares around the streets of Hong Kong and Beijng where China's big three carriers are headquartered. Intriguingly, the Financial Times has just casually mentioned in a somewhat-unrelated piece that "China Telecom is planning to offer the Palm to its subscribers," a perfect fit considering that rival Unicom is poised to launch the iPhone and Telecom runs CDMA with nascent EV-DO coverage in the works. The Pre already knows a thing or two about CDMA networks from its Sprint and Bell launches, of course, so they've already got that base covered -- beyond that brief FT mention, though, we've got nothing, so it's hard to say when this might be hitting retail.
Video: Palm Pre jumps the border, now shipping on Bell
Right on schedule, the Palm Pre has started shipping to Bell Mobility customers. The Bell exclusive marks the first international launch of Palm's little savior and to celebrate, we've got commercials -- a pair of knee-slappers featuring real live Canadians. And you thought that the mirror on the back of the Pre was only for the ladies.
HTC Touch Pro2 looking good for September 8 launch on Sprint
Aiming a cameraphone at a computer monitor conveniently displaying names, dates, and prices of upcoming products always seems to end in sweet, sweet leakage, doesn't it? New shots over at SprintUsers are showing some low-end noise in the mix like an orange Rumor 2 and a pair of Sammies apparently too lowly to get actual names, but the real news has to be that the long-awaited Touch Pro2 (Sprint should know better than to question HTC's wisdom in nixing the space between "Pro" and "2" here) looks finalized for a September 8 launch. We wouldn't freak out at the $599.99 retail price, necessarily -- bear in mind that's a totally unsubsidized, rebate-free price that few customers will actually be paying. Interestingly, the screencap is accompanied by a PDF identified as an internal "Quick Reference Brief" for the Touch Pro2; part of the doc includes a comparison chart that pits the phone against AT&T's LG Monaco and HTC Warhawk along with Verizon's Omnia II, all phones that have yet to be released. Wondering where they'd get the lowdown on unannounced competitive hardware? Us, it turns out -- zoom in on the chart for a good look at a super low-res Engadget logo watermarked across the Warhawk. You're most welcome, Sprint -- buy us a drink sometime and we're square. [Via wmpoweruser.com]
Sprint's HTC Hero getting Best Buy presale on September 13?
Alright, look, we seriously have enough evidence here on our desk to put Sprint away for life convince even the most jaded naysayer that Sprint's got a Hero on the way. It's happening, end of story -- but when, where, and how much? We don't have the complete picture yet beyond suggestions of an October window, but we've just been tipped off here that Best Buy Mobile locations will be taking $50 deposits for the phone starting on September 13 with an SKU of 9510013. Whether the phone will be popular enough to warrant relieving yourself of $50 a month (or more) ahead of time is unclear -- especially with the InstinctQ in the pipe -- but at least it looks like you'll have the option. [Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Verizon preps Samsung Rogue and Intensity for September 8 launches
With names like "Rogue" and "Intensity," we're totally picturing these phones breaking out of their tethers in Verizon stores, wreaking havoc, pickpocketing customers, and stealing identities during credit checks -- but in reality, we've just got a couple of unassuming QWERTY sliders in the mix here. Starting with the lower of the two, the Intensity keeps things simple by leaving out 3G and sticking with a 1.3 megapixel camera, so we're thinking this slots in right underneath the Rival as far as Big Red's text-heavy wares go. Moving up, the Rogue is looking to put the Glyde out to pasture with a 3.1-inch WVGA AMOLED display, 3 megapixel cam with autofocus, HTML browser, and naturally, TouchWiz. Both units hit streets on September 8; you'll pay $199.99 with a $100 rebate on a new two-year agreement for the pricey Rogue, while the more pocketbook-friendly Intensity runs $79.99 on contract with a $50 rebate.
Cricket, MetroPCS launch Samsung Messager II
Seemingly unconvinced that enough people had said "hey, you spelled 'messenger' wrong" after the first model, archrival regionals Cricket and MetroPCS have both launched Samsung's Messager II with a 2 megapixel camera, EV-DO, and a pair of keypads: one slide-out QWERTY, one numeric permanently affixed up front. Admittedly, the name is no stranger than the "Vice" brand adopted by the phone's twin sister up in Canada, but isn't it kind of ironic that a phone with a full QWERTY keyboard be given a name that nearly everyone thinks is a typo? Find this sucker now on MetroPCS for $149 and Cricket for a hair under $200. [Via Phone Scoop]
Motorola A3300c coming to China Telecom with WinMo, 3G?
It's apparently still not 1,000 percent official, but that A3300 we spied not long ago from Motorola is looking a lot more real now that we've got pictures that look like they've been taken with something remotely resembling pro photography gear. sina.com.cn is reporting that the full-touch WinMo phone has sprouted a "c" on the end of its name, a shout-out to the CDMA radio it's packing as it prepares for a launch on China Telecom's EV-DO-based 3G network. Other goodies on board include a 5 megapixel cam, WiFi, AGPS, and a WQVGA display -- and no, unless you're in China, you probably can't have it since Moto's all about Android now. [Via motorolazine.biz]
Alltel picks up BlackBerry Tour, Samsung Glint
That shot of an Alltel-branded Tour in the wild turned out to be stone-cold legit seeing how the regional carrier (what's left of it following the Verizon acquisition, anyhow) is now offering the phone for $200 -- the same price you'll find on Sprint or Verizon. That's cool and all, but we know the real reason you're reading this is that they've also launched the Samsung Glint, a low-cost flip with a VGA cam, stereo Bluetooth, and availability in both pink and blue. Both devices are available now, though we've yet to see 'em show up on the carrier's site so you might want to make some phone calls before running down to the store. [Via Phone Scoop]
HTC Hero earns FCC approval with CDMA, Sprint launch rumors more solid than ever
We know of precisely two types of radios going into Heros (or would that be Heroes?) right now: the 900 / 2100MHz 3G for global use that everyone's using so far, and an 850 / 1900 version for North America that the FCC's had the pleasure of using. Well, you know how FCC labs work -- they get to play with all the toys before anyone else does -- and now they're checking out another version of HTC's latest and greatest Android device with CDMA / EV-DO. This lends near-infinite credibility to the buzz that Sprint's signed up to launch the phone this fall, presumably around the same time it drops the InstinctQ from Samsung, at which point it'll have both the QWERTY and full-touch Android angles covered. Options are good, are they not?
