HTC HD2 officially coming to US, out in Europe and Asia today!
Posted Nov 4th 2009 6:02AM by Vladislav Savov
Be still, our beating hearts! HTC has just pressed the "Go" button for European and Asian shipping of its latest object of desire, and it's served notice to American phone lovers that the HD2 is coming to them soon as well. Slated for a "major US carrier" some time "early 2010," it'll land squarely in the same time bracket as the XPERIA X10, which should lead to some really quite interesting decisions to be made, presumably by March 2010. The WinMo 6.5 device might be shipping now, but you'll have to wait at least until the 9th of November before you can spill your Euros for it, and we expect to see a flurry of pricing and contract information filling that short waiting time. Full PR after the break.
[Via MobileTechWorld]
[Via MobileTechWorld]
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.


Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
D @ Nov 4th 2009 7:44AM
Um...I don't personally consider T-Mobile US a "major" carrier, at least not when it comes to 3G coverage. And lately they can't even seem to keep their voice network going. :-/
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/11/03/t-mobile-usa-down-all-over-the-place/
AT&T or Verizon please....
carcomptoy @ Nov 4th 2009 7:56AM
Why are pretentious pricks so quick to condescend on the underdog? Stop judging a book by its cover. Yes, T-Mobile had an outage yesterday, but guess what? iPhone users experience outages on a daily basis on the network with "more bars in more places."
Screw the Death Star.
000000 @ Nov 4th 2009 8:30AM
I agree. Tmobile has the worst 3G coverage of the 4 carriers. But, at least it's GSM.
D @ Nov 4th 2009 9:06AM
@carcomptoy
Why are pretentious pricks so quick to defend the leader?
Apparently what you describe is as much of an iPhone thing than an AT&T thing, per some folks in the UK:
http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/11/03/brit-blog-names-iphone-worlds-worst/?section=money_topstories
(Note: I've been on AT&T for years in the DC suburbs; a little spotty, but overall not bad at all for voice. 3G is another issue.)
And I speak the truth, T-Mobile's 3G coverage is pathetic. And I cite their recent voice outage simply because it's timely, it's high-profile, and it only serves to make customers of other carriers even more skeptical of the weakest of the Big 4.
Also, I'm not a rabid, foaming-at-the-mouth fanboy zealot about my devices. While I'm sure many iPhone users might be happy to uproot their lives and move to where they have good 3G coverage on whatever carrier their new Apple-logo-bearing significant other is on, us sensible folks weigh the pros and cons of devices /and/ carriers before making a choice. :-)
Galen20K @ Nov 4th 2009 9:41AM
D you ARE a Pretentious PRICK plain and Simple. ATT has the WORST Service of ALL the Carriers and when THEY have Outages they IGNORE It and hope its subscribers don't notice.
Ignorance is TRULY Bliss for you isn't it?
aoi tsuki @ Nov 4th 2009 8:01AM
There really wasn't a doubt in my mind that it would hit the US. The questions are when, to what carrier, and how much.
Big D @ Nov 4th 2009 10:58PM
Realistically, what are the chances Verizon will pick up this device considering T-Mobile UK has it overseas???
Ahmed Eltawil @ Nov 4th 2009 9:04AM
That's great news. I just hope the 'major US carrier' doesn't change the device's physical appearance like others did with the HTC Hero.
JB6464 @ Nov 4th 2009 9:17AM
It will be released on T-mobile in the first quarter. And don't forget T-mobile is releasing HSPA+ soon as well which will be alot faster than regular 3G. Tha'ts what they been working on since 4G is right around the corner.
Austin @ Nov 4th 2009 11:30AM
Do you know if this device will be compatible with HSPA+?
And does anyone know if HTC, whomever the carrier is (T-Mobile USA, it sounds like), and/or MS will support 6.5 upgrades to 7.0? Sounds like all three have to agree and collobrate on it since HTC has to make sure their latest skin works, the carrier has to make sure it works with their carrier level customization, and MS has to create the foundational software 6.5 to be upgradeable to 7.0 in the first place, isn't that right?
JB6464 @ Nov 4th 2009 9:24AM
@D , Like AT&T does'nt have spotty coverage. Get Real ! All four majior carriers have good and bad areas in coverage. It just depends which one has the best for you in your area.
But go ahead and get bent-over by Verizon & AT&T with their over-priced plans. My family has both and i pay half their cost on T-mobile and never have any Voice or 3G problems.
D @ Nov 4th 2009 10:38AM
The only intelligent part of what you just said was "All four major carriers have good and bad areas in coverage," which is quite true.
In my area AT&T trumps T-Mobile pretty solidly on voice, and hands down on 3G -- I speak from experience, as I tried it for a few weeks when the G1 came out.
And for nationwide coverage, something important to those who travel often, AT&T and Verizon beat T-Mobile pretty thoroughly on voice, and astronomically on 3G (especially Verizon; it may be a little slower and pricier, but it's almost everywhere). No sensible individual can dispute this.
T-Mobile is cheaper for a reason. If it works for your needs, I'm happy for you, I really am. But it doesn't work for my needs.
Jason @ Nov 4th 2009 10:55AM
Launching hspa+??? what in like one square mile in New York? Are you kidding! I hate iPhone hating ass fools man, i'm more of a Blackberry, Andriod fan but really this whole iPhone can't this iPhone can't that or this does this bettter, who gives a flying F!! Who cares what phone people use F-ing babies. And yes if iPhone was on any other network it would soak up so much bandwidth that any carrier would have issues, look at the numbers it does at AT&T! It's a fact, so shut the F up and pull the old razors out of your ass and loosen up. Quite frankly I hope it hits AT&T cause T Mo coverage really does suck, that's why I'm not jumping on the n900. Compared it's worse, is big V coverage better then AT&T? Yes, but I "personally" don't like them. Who cares.
Galen20K @ Nov 4th 2009 9:44AM
This is Definitely coming to T-Mobile USA as one of the “Phones you Crave” plan. Cannot wait to play around with one soon. Also rumored is the Sony Ericcson X10 coming as well as part of their recent partnership with SE.
2010 is going to be an Exciting year for T-Mobile.
JB6464 @ Nov 4th 2009 12:15PM
Damn Jason , someone must have really pissed in your wheat bowl this morning. I'm no fan of any type of phone as well but whatever makes you happy do it.
I'm using a unlocked/JB iphone on T-Mobile right now because i prefer it over what they sell now but i don't pitch-a-bitch over it because it's not picking up 3G speeds.
Hell it loads sometimes faster than my brother's AT&T 3G phone and i'm on 2G(2.75g)speeds.
If you hate T-Mobile that bad then just move on to a carriers that makes you happy. And leave your wheat bowl at home with all your whinning.
Arya Sumant @ Nov 13th 2009 4:32AM
true
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http://mobilania.com
Eric Choi @ Nov 22nd 2009 11:11AM
It's been 18 days! Where is that review? Plenty of other reviews out there, but I need the Engadget review for the final word.